6.8 /10 1 Votes6.8
Language English Media type Print Originally published 2012 Page count 202 | 3.4/5 Goodreads Publication date 2012 Pages 202 ISBN 9780099287377 Country United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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London Under is a 2012 book by British biographer, novelist, and critic Peter Ackroyd about the history of underground London.
Contents
Synopsis
The book 'is an introduction to everything that goes on under London'. The book profiles Roman amphitheaters, Victorian sewers and gang hideouts.
Reception
In The Independent Christopher Hirst wrote 'Ackroyd's stylistic brilliance explains why the book remains a rattling good read despite its pervasive psycho-geographical angst.' In Londonist Matt Brown writes 'the author is also skilled at connecting past, present and future. He notes, for example, that our modern Underground system was initiated by a man born when Marie Antoinette still possessed a head' however he also notes 'Oddly, the book begins by stating that ‘there is little interest in this vast underworld’. The bibliography, listing 40 similar volumes, begs to differ. Given the popularity of the Kingsway and Thames tunnels, and the disused Aldwych station, which all briefly opened to visitors recently, it seems a bizarre assertion' while in the London Evening Standard Stephen Smith wrote 'Sure enough, 11 years after he produced London: The Biography, he now examines the hidden organs of the capital, its "nerves" and guts and bowels' and 'We owe Ackroyd a great debt, all the same. He has memorialised London so well, it's time London returned the compliment'. The book was also reviewed in The New York Times.