Peter Whitfield
A city long shrouded in literary and historical mists--not to mention real ones--London seduces tourists and natives alike. From Big Ben to the grimy Victorian streets of Dickens novels on up to the sleek high-rises that dot the skyline of the twenty-first-century metropolis, the urban landscape of London is steeped in history, while forever responsive to the changing dictates of progress, industry, and culture. In ,London,: A Life in Maps,, acclaimed historian Peter Whitfield reveals a wealth of surprising truths and forgotten facts hidden in the cityâ€™s historic maps.,Whitfield examines nearly 200 maps spanning the last 500 years, all of which vividly demonstrate the vast changes wrought on Londonâ€™s streets, open spaces, and buildings. In a rich array of colorful cartographic illustrations, the maps chronicle Londonâ€™s tumultuous history, from the devastation of the Great Fire to the indelible marks left by World WarsÂ I andÂ II to the emergence of the West End as a fashion mecca. Whitfield reads historic sketches and detailed plans as biographical keys to this complex, sprawling urban center, and his in-depth examination unearths fascinating insights into the city of black cabs and red double-deckers. With engaging prose and astute analysisÂ he alsoÂ expertly coaxes out the subtle complexitiesâ€”of social history, urban planning, and designâ€”within the rich documentation of Londonâ€™s immense and constantly changing cityscape.,London,: A Life in Maps, lets readersÂ wander through the past and present ofÂ Londonâ€™s celebrated streetsâ€”from Abbey Road to Savile Rowâ€”and along the way reveals the cityâ€™s captivating history, vibrant culture, and potential future.
History,Nonfiction,Reference,Travel,European Literature,British Literature,Science,Geography,Cartography,Maps,Reference,Research,Geography,Cities,Cultural
London: A Life in Maps