Bizarre London: Discover the Capital's Secrets & Surprises

by David Long

Overview

A charming gift book of the strangest and most intriguing stories of London.

A fascinating tour of London's strangest and most intriguing locations. Ranging from architectural evidence of past incidents and stories of life beneath the city, to anecdotes of magic, mystery, and murder, this is a perfect companion for anyone curious about the captivating capital. Learn why London buses are red, the city’s cabbie slang, its weirdest wills, and the maddest buildings never built. Take a trip around one of the world’s most beloved cities and discover the bizarre history of its pubs, graveyards, tube stations, parks, and palaces—it’s London as you’ve never seen it before.

Bizarre London includes: A Museum of Magical Curiosities; The City's Lost Tunnels and Citadels; The Ghost of a She-Wolf; The Bawdy House Riots; The Story of “Jack the Stripper”; The Atmospheric Railway; The Thames Ringway Bicycle Race; A Banker Hanged at Newgate; The Crossdressing Highwayman; Bluebottles, Rozzers and Woodentops; The Hidden Statue of a Beaver; The “Belgravia of Death”; Whitehall’s Licensed Brothel; Pin-Makers, Mole-Takers and Rat Catchers; Drinking in “The Bucket of Blood”; and London's Most Haunted House.

All of London is here!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781510742116
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	03/12/2019
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

David Long has been a writer and journalist for nearly thirty years. He is the author of more than a dozen books, mostly on London and with titles reflecting an unquenchable thirst for the quirkier, lesser known aspects of its long history, continually changing streetscape and often eccentric inhabitants. He lives in London, England.

Table of Contents

Introduction v

1 Gruesome London 1

2 Ghostly London 16

3 Building London 27

4 Spy's London 44

5 Under London 54

6 Monumental London 70

7 Dead London 79

8 Royal London 93

9 Shopping London 99

10 Green London 111

11 Eccentrics' London 123

12 Eating London 133

13 Working London 139

14 Boozy London 156

15 Private London 169

16 Military London 180

17 Illegal London 189

18 Sporting London 205

19 Driving London 213

20 Parliamentary London 227

21 Ceremonial London 242

22 Esoteric London 253

Editorial Reviews

"Here's yet another book revealing the capital's "secrets'" and "surprises." But it would be churlish to discount this new compendium of unusual London tales . . . David Long's an old-hand at putting books like this together, and he always digs up exquisite truffles to go with the hoary turnips. The format flits whimsically between novelty lists ("London's weirdest wills." "London's maddest buildings never built," "London cabbie slang" . . . ), and mini-essays wriggling with anecdote ("Why are London buses red?", "London's famous motoring firsts" . . . ). In a market niche that's now as crowded as the 18:22 to Reading, Bizarre London pummels its bantamweight rivals with knockout clouts of trivia that even this weary correspondent hadn't encountered before."
—The Londonist

"Here's yet another book revealing the capital's "secrets'" and "surprises." But it would be churlish to discount this new compendium of unusual London tales . . . David Long's an old-hand at putting books like this together, and he always digs up exquisite truffles to go with the hoary turnips. The format flits whimsically between novelty lists ("London's weirdest wills." "London's maddest buildings never built," "London cabbie slang" . . . ), and mini-essays wriggling with anecdote ("Why are London buses red?", "London's famous motoring firsts" . . . ). In a market niche that's now as crowded as the 18:22 to Reading, Bizarre London pummels its bantamweight rivals with knockout clouts of trivia that even this weary correspondent hadn't encountered before."
—The Londonist

From the Publisher