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Piccadilly: The Circus at the Heart of London
There's nowhere quite like Piccadilly Circus.
From the moment they emerge, blinking from the underground station, visitors to Piccadilly Circus face a sensory onslaught. Its streets and alleyways merge into an intoxicating thoroughfare, with the power to propel an individual onwards to adventure, romance, or something more sinister. Ever since its iconic Eros statue appeared in 1893, the junction has been a vibrant meeting place, attracting visitors and pleasure-seekers from all walks of political plans and theatrical careers were hatched at its restaurant and café tables, lovers met below the statue of Eros, and to this day tourists pour out of its historic Tube to experience the bright lights of London's nightlife.
Piccadilly explores how the area has been shaped by social and historical events - from female suffrage to world wars to technological advancements - and by its colourful cast of characters - from flower girls, shop assistants and sex workers, to film stars, Bright Young Things and conmen (and women).
For many, the Circus has represented both a home from home and a brave new world, as campaigners, revellers, opportunists and romantics have all been drawn to Piccadilly's bright lights.
This is the story of why Piccadilly Circus continues to mean so much to so many.
From the moment they emerge, blinking from the underground station, visitors to Piccadilly Circus face a sensory onslaught. Its streets and alleyways merge into an intoxicating thoroughfare, with the power to propel an individual onwards to adventure, romance, or something more sinister. Ever since its iconic Eros statue appeared in 1893, the junction has been a vibrant meeting place, attracting visitors and pleasure-seekers from all walks of political plans and theatrical careers were hatched at its restaurant and café tables, lovers met below the statue of Eros, and to this day tourists pour out of its historic Tube to experience the bright lights of London's nightlife.
Piccadilly explores how the area has been shaped by social and historical events - from female suffrage to world wars to technological advancements - and by its colourful cast of characters - from flower girls, shop assistants and sex workers, to film stars, Bright Young Things and conmen (and women).
For many, the Circus has represented both a home from home and a brave new world, as campaigners, revellers, opportunists and romantics have all been drawn to Piccadilly's bright lights.
This is the story of why Piccadilly Circus continues to mean so much to so many.
- GenresHistory
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 31, 2022
I had high hopes for this one, given my affection for London, but found it ultimately disappointing.
The focus moves in and out of Piccadilly Circus proper, so Gillies discusses the history of the Piccadilly tube line; central London department stores; suffragist riots (and how I wish she had used the uncondescending term "suffragists," but oh well); the Bright Young Things of the 1920s; Lyons Corner Shops ... et cetera. That's not the problem; the problem is that in every section the same insight, which isn't much of an insight, is repeated -- essentially, Piccadilly! So busy and various! So much going on there! I sometimes wanted to shout at the author to stop padding.
Over time the effect is that of interesting facts strung together without much of an animating or illuminating theme, and consequently Piccadilly is often entertaining but not engrossing, more in-depth tourist guide than work of history.
The focus moves in and out of Piccadilly Circus proper, so Gillies discusses the history of the Piccadilly tube line; central London department stores; suffragist riots (and how I wish she had used the uncondescending term "suffragists," but oh well); the Bright Young Things of the 1920s; Lyons Corner Shops ... et cetera. That's not the problem; the problem is that in every section the same insight, which isn't much of an insight, is repeated -- essentially, Piccadilly! So busy and various! So much going on there! I sometimes wanted to shout at the author to stop padding.
Over time the effect is that of interesting facts strung together without much of an animating or illuminating theme, and consequently Piccadilly is often entertaining but not engrossing, more in-depth tourist guide than work of history.
March 9, 2023
Spanning the decades between Piccadilly Circus's inception up until V.E. Day (with a post-script for the years since), this historical account sweeps the reader along as the area develops in character, popularity and renown. Written in bite-sized chapters devoted to each of the major events concerning and surrounding Piccadilly, this book includes information that must've required a vast amount of meticulous research, such as that about the statue/memorial itself, the Tube station development, Swan & Edgar, Boots, Simpsons, Suffragettes, Lilywhites, the illuminated advertising, and most notably, the events of WW1 and WW2.
As a Londoner, I have some affinity with the place, although I've only visited there infrequently. Even so, I was interested in most of this peacetime history and quite emotionally captivated by the wartime chapters. Necessarily, for different readers, their interests will perhaps lie in certain chapters more than others, but on the whole, I found it well-written, accessible, intelligent and a worthy book that needed to be written about this area of London. I would actually have liked a little more on the years from 1946-present, although V.E. Day is a happy event to round off the book nicely. Well worth a read. 4.25/5
As a Londoner, I have some affinity with the place, although I've only visited there infrequently. Even so, I was interested in most of this peacetime history and quite emotionally captivated by the wartime chapters. Necessarily, for different readers, their interests will perhaps lie in certain chapters more than others, but on the whole, I found it well-written, accessible, intelligent and a worthy book that needed to be written about this area of London. I would actually have liked a little more on the years from 1946-present, although V.E. Day is a happy event to round off the book nicely. Well worth a read. 4.25/5
January 4, 2024
A really concise and enjoyable history of one of my favourite places in the world.
Its a complete history from the birth of Eros through to the Wars and a little modern history.. I loved it.
Its a complete history from the birth of Eros through to the Wars and a little modern history.. I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews