Synopses & Reviews
'London: A Pilgrimage' was conceived in 1868 by the journalist and playwright Blanchard Jerrold. Accompanied by the famous artist Gustave Doré, Jerrold prowled every corner of the heaving metropolis, sometimes with plain-clothes police for protection. 'London: A Pilgrimage' is a forgotten classic of social journalism, a frank and brutal look at the poverty striken, gin-swilling London of the nineteenth century, written in a perceptive, bold and gripping style.
180 incredible etchings by Doré escort Jerrold on his odyssey through the pulsating city, into the Lambeth gas works, seedy opium dens and grubby bathing houses; peering curiously into the desperate lives of the flower sellers, lavender girls and organ grinders. 'London: A Pilgrimage' is an enlightening work that brings to life the chaotic and gloomy past of a great city on the cusp of modern times.
Peter Ackroyd's excellent introduction sheds further light on the period and the context in which Jerrold and Doré felt compelled to reveal to the world the squalor into which London was slowly sinking.
Review
'An historically fascinating and resonant piece of social history.'
Laurence Phelan, Independent
Review
An astonishing and beautiful book. Compulsory reading for every Londoner.
Nicola Barr, Guardian
Synopsis
London: A Pilgrimage is an enlightening work that brings to life the chaotic and gloomy past of a great city on the cusp of modern times. 180 incredible etchings by Gustave Doré escort Blanchard Jerrold on his odyssey through the pulsating city, into the Lambeth gas works, seedy opium dens and grubby bathing houses; peering curiously into the desperate lives of the flower sellers, lavender girls and organ grinders.
Synopsis
A journey through an amazing city on the cusp of modernity, this remarkable book sheds light on the dark heart of London in the 19th Century.
Synopsis
'London: A Pilgrimage' is a forgotten classic of social journalism, a frank and brutal look at the poverty striken, gin-swilling London of the nineteenth century, written in a perceptive, bold and gripping style.
Synopsis
'London: A Pilgrimage' was conceived in 1868 by the journalist and playwright Blanchard Jerrold. Accompanied by the famous artist Gustave Doré, Jerrold prowled every corner of the heaving metropolis, sometimes with plain-clothes police for protection. 'London: A Pilgrimage' is a forgotten classic of social journalism, a frank and brutal look at the poverty striken, gin-swilling London of the nineteenth century, written in a perceptive, bold and gripping style.
About the Author
Blanchard Jerrold (1826–1884) was both journalist and playwright, with Cool as a Cucumber being the most successful of his plays. He was also editor of Lloyd's Weekly News and closely associated with Charles Dickens, even working as one of the contributors for Dickens' weekly periodical Household Words. Gustave Doré (1832–1883) was an amazingly gifted artist, who was known for the intensity of his engravings and was even called 'the last of the Romantics'. Among his many works are illustrated editions of Paradise Lost, The Bible and The Idylls of the Kings. Peter Ackroyd is a successful and respected author and historian with a great interest in the city of London. His many publications include London: The Biography (Chatto & Windus, 2000) and The Lambs of London (Chatto & Windus, 2004). He has also written imaginatively convincing biographies of literary greats like TS Eliot, Charles Dickens, William Blake and Thomas More.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations; Introduction by Peter Ackroyd; Preface; Introduction; I: London Bridge; II: The Busy River-Side; III. The Docks; IV. Above Bridge towards Westminster; V. All London at A Boat Race; VI. The Race; VII. The Derby; VIII. London on the Drowns; IX. The West End; X. In the Season; XI. By the Abbey; XII. London, Under Green Leaves; XIII. With the Beasts; XIV: Work-A-Day London; XV. Humble Industries; XVI. The Town of Malt; XVII. Under Lock and Key; XVIII. Whitechapel and Thereabouts; XIX. In the Market Place; XX. London at Play; XXI. London Charity