Reviews for London Perceived

The average rating for London Perceived based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-11-21 00:00:00 Patrick Lyon A charming, superbly erudite little number that wears its knowledge lightly. Takes in architecture, literature, history, memoir. It's worth it alone for Pritchett's description of the Tower of London (ravens like 'dilapidated Tudors'. Love it). I learned more about the Neo-Gothic from this short piece than I've got out of numerous well-intentioned architecture primers. I mean, that idea of London having for centuries hankered for Europe culturally yet by the Victorian age facing the world - how clever and how obvious it seems to me now. The idea of the 17th century being all idealistic and rational, only to be sullied by the brutality of the Industrial Revolution, turning us all Ruskin and Morris. This the sort of memorable storytelling that teachers should do more often. He's got such a fine eye for character too (I'd normally dismiss most people's generalisations about a city's inhabitants. But coming from VSP though - well, they're allowed). Great on Defoe too. Definitely one for your London Non-Fiction shelf. He's a superb short story writer as it is (though sadly overlooked), so to find him having written about London Tahn is sweet as. Must see if there's any Chinatown in Limehouse left (pretty sure there isn't). Some good pub tips in there too.

Review # 2 was written on 2017-01-24 00:00:00 Andrew May Daunt Books have issued this new edition of Pritchett's essay to a London he clearly loved. Written as it was in the sixties, it is now not so much an introduction to London as a slice of social history. Back then there were still a few lightermen plying their trade across the Thames, and even in a few backwaters lamplighters cycling round every night to tend to the gaslights. I don't know London well - I've only ever been an occasional visitor, but that doesn't stop this from being a very interesting read. Frequently when he is talking about the attitudes of Londoners, he could be talking about the British in general - particularly when he is tackling subjects such as class. Beautifully written, it is one man's London - I suspect every inhabitant would have their own, equally valid version but few would be so erudite.