West End Chronicles: A History Of The Heart Of London

by Ed Glinert

The streets and squares of the West End of London, some of the most famous in the world, have been home to poets and pop stars, world-renowned artists and revolutionary anarchists. They have been a playground of gangsters and gamblers, secret agents and religious visionaries. The exploits of these and many other colourful characters are recounted in Ed Glinert's latest volume. Packed with atmospheric incident and detail, it's a treasure trove of stories of the people, places and events at the hub of the world's most exciting city.

Genres: London, History, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I thought this book would be very dry and slight, but alas I am wrong! It's a fascinating social history of life in the West End of London - which includes my favorite part of London (history and culturally) Soho.

Here you have everything from crime life (which is fascinating) to literary happenings through out the years. Obscure figures as well as the very famous are mentioned and discussed. Pub and bar history is interesting as well. For those who love literature, pop music and true-crime will love this book.

[Claire]

A fun and readable account of the history of London's heartlands - but I spotted a few too many glaring mistakes and obvious reliance on shaky sources. Worth a look though!