Literature Set in London
 

Well, I'm just twiddling my thumbs at this point with nothing to plan. Can anyone recommend some good books to read that are set in London to get me in the mood for my trip in May? I'm not a huge fan of period novels but I'm basically open to anything.

There's the Buddha of Suburbia - that's the first one that springs to mind. I tend mostly to read travel and murder mystery books, but I'll see if I can think of some more.<BR><BR>Of course - the Sherlock Holmes stories, though very out of date(!), do give a good idea what it must have been like in London 150 years or so ago.<BR><BR>

One of my favourites is "The Wimbledon Poisoner" by Nigel Williams - about a middle aged man frustrated by life in suburbia who decides to try to poison his wife but fails hilariously several times.<BR><BR>I can't really think of many more books that aren't historical, but there are plenty of films. For example, "Notting Hill" springs to mind, as does "Four Weddings" and "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" (though that's a side of London you probably won't see on your travels!)

Consider "London,The Novel" by Edward Rutherford. Quite similar to the novels of James Michener, it traces the history of London through successive generations of Londoners. For two intriguing non-fiction books, look for Blake Ehrlich's "London on the Thames", out of print but available from alibris. It is essentially a fact filled walking tour of London's historic sites, delightfully written. Current and in print is Peter Ackroyd's "London, The Biography" an anecdotal thematic history of London.

Oh, Vita, do try "Forever Amber" one of my all time very favorites. It is by Kathleen Windsor and was published, I believe, in the '50's. It is a swashbuckling romance in the vein of Gone with the Wind with lots of history and court intrigue thrown in. I plan to read it again before my trip in May.

Yes, the Rutherfurd novel is aces...also, go to amazon.com and look for LONDON: A BIOGRAPHY, fairly recent, VERY good, very well received, sorry, don't know the author but you won't need it.

Thanks, all. Keith, if you liked the Wimbeldon Poisoner, there was a movie (might also have been a book) called 'I Love You to Death' with Tracy Ullman, Kevin Kline, and River Phoenix. It was based on the true story of a woman who repeatedly tries to murder her philandering husband.

Helene Hanff's "84 Charing Cross Road" and "Duchess of Bloomsbury"<BR><BR>While not set in London, I love the Mapp & Lucia series by E.F. Benson. You can buy the books individually but I think the whole series is packaged under the title "Make Way For Lucia".<BR><BR>"My East End" by Gilda O'Neill tells about her life growing up in East End of London in the 1940's & 50's.<BR><BR>Not sure how scholarly you want to get with your reading but if you are the scholarly type you may want to try "Pepys Diary" by Samuel Pepys. He wrote all the details of his life during the 1600's (including the Great Fire of London and his negative opinion on one of Shakespeare's plays). But while very interesting, this is not "light" reading.

Hey, don't forget the Diagon Alley and King's Cross parts of the Harry Potter books!

Oh give me the blood and guts/crime and grime stuff anytime:<BR>anything by P.D.James, Colin Dexter (the Morse character), John Mortimer (Rumpole of the Bailey), Ruth Rendell, and Anne Perry.

Sometimes I cringe when I reread my posts. Not a bad speller, jsut a bda tpyist.

How about London, the Biography by Peter Ackroyd?<BR>

Joyce Cary's "The Horse's Mouth".

Vita, what about the obvious--the novels of Charles Dickens. My fav is "Great Expectations."

So after all of your wonderful suggestions, I forgot to print out the post before going to the book store. However, I came across London Fields by Martin Amis and was hooked immediately. Thanks again, and there's plenty of time to read before May so I'd be happy to have more suggestions.

A light, contemporary, fun novel, and actually accurate for locations, which I just finished "Confessions of a Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsley. She also wrote a sequel, "A Shopaholic takes Manhattan". I laughed throughout both books, and the second one also takes place in both London and Manhattan. When I grow up, I want to be Becky Bloomfield. I hope her adventures continue. I was very sad when I got to the last page, and found no more to turn.

A second vote for 84 Charing Cross Road (also see the movie)and the Duchess of Bloomsbury! I love these books. So glad you mentioned them, Philip!<BR><BR>I'll also add, Muriel Spark's A Far Cry from Kensingon. I like all the mentions of the locations and the odd group of characters she throws together.

Another vote for Rutherford's "London".Read it before I went to London, then as we toured London I felt just like I was seeing all the places in the book. Visit the Museum of London where Rutherford did most of his research. You "walk" right through the history of the city. Also took Sherlock Holmes walking tour through "Origianl London Walks". Hope you have as wonderful a time as we did.

Also wanted to mention to all you mystery lovers out there that I came across this book called 'Mystery Reader's Walking Guide : London.' I used it to pick up some more books.

Picked up Forever Amber yesterday, am having a hard time putting it down. Not getting any work done. Thanks for the heads up on this wonderful book.<BR>Vicki