London: A history

Idiosyncratic, comprehensive, and impeccably researched, this master work by a revered artist unveils one of the world’s most famous cities from pre-history to the present, in all its epic glory.

Imagine a kaleidoscopic view of a storied city—from the remote past to today—brought to life in magnificent illustrations. Laura Carlin’s breathtaking artwork animates thousands of years of London history, beginning long before there were cities—when dinosaurs roamed the Earth—and ending with the 2022 death of a beloved monarch. Teeming panoramic spreads track the Ice, Stone, and Bronze Ages; waves of Romans, Anglo Saxons, Vikings, and Normans; and witch hunts and wars both civil and global. From the Plague and the Great Fire of the 1600s to the world wars of the twentieth century, from the lives of the royals to those of housemaids and factory workers, this loving tribute to London through the ages thoughtfully curates passages from historical accounts, poems, and the private diaries of luminaries like Samuel Pepys, Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, and Virginia Woolf, allowing the city to speak through its famous denizens. An exquisite gift book for art lovers, history buffs, and world travelers of all ages, this rich compendium is for anyone who has fallen—or has yet to fall—under the spell of one of the world’s most bewitching cities.