Any books to get in the mood for London?
 

Heading off to London for Christmas (I know, I know, but we've been making good headway and there are several walks scheduled &amp; we have good just-walking-around plans).<BR><BR>Any good book recommendations? (I have done a search &amp; didn't pull up any threads - other than the bookstore one, which I copied immediately!). I'll leave it pretty open since I like just about anything. Anything that really puts an emphasis on London.<BR><BR>Have read many of the classics (Austen, Dickens, etc.), so perhaps not so interested in those - but modern fiction or great nonfiction that could put us in the mood would be great. My husband would love a real edge-of-the seat book, or might be interested in a good book about the more mysterious side of London - from ghosts to spies.<BR><BR>Thanks so much!

Andrea<BR><BR>One that I have enjoyed is by Edward Rutherfurd and is called London - the Novel. It is one of those history told by fiction books which tells the story of London from Roman to modern times through the view points of a number of fictional families over that time. It was a lively way of reading history but it is a tad long. 800 pages!<BR><BR>I think if you have read Dickens you are half way there! How about Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hyde by Rober Louis Stevenson or something about Jack the Ripper for your husband?<BR><BR>Happy reading.

The &quot;Time Out&quot; Book of London Short Stories.

What about 31. Almanac Road. A fun and easy book to read

Read: London: the Biography by<BR>Peter Ackroyd.<BR>It's full of fascinating facts and is a great book to dip into.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - Modern fantasy that is set in London

I've just brought up a thread from ages ago on this topic..

But I would also add Geoff Ryman's 253 (an interactive online novel based around the Underground - see www.ryman-novel.com, but it's also available in print) or for thrillers/detective stories:<BR>Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell again) 'King Solomon's Carpet', or Mike Ripley's Angel series.

I must be the only person around who found Rutherfurd’s novel unreadable - dull, plodding writing about undeveloped and uninteresting characters. But I agree about the Ackroyd book.<BR><BR>For a small book that will give you a different perspective on London neighbourhoods, check out “Brothel in Pimlico” by Stephen Robins, a collection of candid London real estate ads. I’d quote one here, but that would only lead to deletion by the Fodors copyright cops.

Hi Andrea<BR><BR> Sherlock Holmes. Not only will you enjoy the stories, but you can visit Baker Street and the other places mentioned.

Many of the Hercule Poirot short stories are set in London, and are quite fun and interesting to read.

Why don't you try Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell - fascinating and will make you look at London in a different light

If you enjoy mysteries, look into Elizabeth George's books. While they are not specifically about London, each examines an aspect of British society and many have wonderful London scenes. For a satirical look, read Terry Prachett -- or maybe it's better to read him after you get home.<BR><BR>

The real experience of living in london is best captured (IMHO) by Martin Amis. In particular London Fields, Money and the Information are excellent.<BR><BR>THis is real life though, not Dickens etc.

Anything by either of the Amis's. <BR><BR>(not Dr J. and Mr H. which is set in Edinburgh)<BR>The Travelling Hornplayer by Barbara Trapido<BR><BR>High Fidelity and About a Boy<BR><BR>The Elizabeth George police books

City of the Mind, a novel by Penelope Lively. The main character is a London architect who's working on a construction project in the Docklands in the early 1990's. As he moves through the city, scenes from the past (e.g., the Blitz) are interwoven with scenes from present-day London. I think the book may be out of print, but it's worth searching for.

Try Ruth Rendell, Nick Hornsby, Martin Amis or Patricia Cornwall's new book about Jack the Ripper.

Try &quot;Do not pass go&quot; by Tim Moore (you can get it on the UK Amazon). It is a Bill Bryson type visit of the London Monopoly board. It looks at why the various streets were chosen in the 1930's. It is very funny, but perhaps the humour is particularly British.