Can you recommend a good book for a London trip?

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Aug 3rd, 2002, 01:12 AM

#21

jen

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Can't believe no one's suggested Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities"!

Aug 3rd, 2002, 07:27 AM

#22

PatrickW

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Bits from Dickens might be better than complete novels ...Just don't make the old Soviet mistake and assume that, say, the first few pages of Bleak House or the Jacob's Island (now a very trendy address) parts of Oliver Twist are a current guide book! Why not visit a bookshop while you're here? You'd get a wider selection.

Aug 3rd, 2002, 05:55 PM

#23

Sue

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I agree that Rutherford's "London" is a must-read. However, it would be better to read it before you go. I read it twice!An absolutely fantastic book set in London is "The Forsyte Saga" by John Galsworthy. However, it's quite long, so I'm not sure about taking something like that on a trip - read it beforehand. Anything by Dickens or Anthony Trollope, too. I read all those kinds of books like crazy before trips, but usually take something light and undemanding (like Grisham!) while traveling, as I'm too tired by nightime to concentrate on heavy reading. If you were a lit major, you've probably already read most of Dickens. Anyway, if you haven't discovered Trollope, and are historically inclined, try him. He was writing about mid-Victorian, upperclass England - his own times.His books are better if read mostly chronologically, though. Have fun!

Aug 3rd, 2002, 07:34 PM

#24

janis

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Another strong vote for London by Edward Rutherfurd. It is a BIG book but a fast read - one of those you wish didn't end. You finish it and you miss the people in it. Unfortunately - reading it automatically leads you to Sarum (a WONDERFUL book) and Forest (An even better novel about Hampshire and the New Forest) All together about 3,000 pages of wonderful historical saga. Also highy recommend any of the books by Susan Allen Toth -- My Love Affair With England, England as You Like It, and England For All Seasons. All three are terrific - probably Love Affair is best for the first read. For light mysteries - any of the Dorothy L Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey books are great fun -- better than Agatha Christie.

Aug 6th, 2002, 08:11 AM

#25

Ellen

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I read "A Tale of Two Cities" when in Paris, "A Confederacy of Dunces" while in New Orleans, "Kitchen God's Wife" in San Fran, etc! How about one of Rumer Godden's books for London? "An Episode of Sparrows" or "A Candle for St. Jude" or many others. Also, Susan Allen Toth has a lot of non-fiction, but poetic, books about England "A Love Affair with England" is one of them.

Aug 6th, 2002, 08:29 AM

#26

ron

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I guess I must be unique in my dislike for Rutherfurd’s book. I managed to get through about one-third of it before giving up. I found slogging through tens of pages of flat, lifeless prose about uninteresting fictional characters to glean one or two interesting historical facts very unrewarding. Give me Porter’s or Ackroyd’s real histories any day. Anybody who wants a copy, slightly chewed by a cat (even he couldn’t finish it), are welcome to it for the price of postage.