Synopses & Reviews
From Manchesters deadly cotton works to Londons literary salons, a brilliant exploration of how the Victorians created the modern city Since Charles Dickens first described Coketown in Hard Times, the nineteenth-century city, born of the industrial revolution, has been a byword for deprivation, pollution, and criminality. Yet, as historian Tristram Hunt argues in this powerful new history, the Coketowns of the 1800s were far more than a monstrous landscape of factories and tenements. By 1851, more than half of Britains population lived in cities, and even as these pioneers confronted a frightening new way of life, they produced an urban flowering that would influence the shape of cities for generations to come.
Drawing on diaries, newspapers, and classic works of fiction, Hunt shows how the Victorians translated their energy and ambition into realizing an astonishingly grand vision of the utopian city on a hillthe new Jerusalem. He surveys the great civic creations, from town halls to city squares, sidewalks, and even sewers, to reveal a story of middle-class power and prosperity and the liberating mission of city life. Vowing to emulate the city-states of Renaissance Italy, the Victorians worked to turn even the smokestacks of Manchester and Birmingham into sites of freedom and art. And they succeededuntil twentieth-century decline transformed wealthy metropolises into dangerous inner cities.
An original history of proud cities and confident citizens, Building Jerusalem depicts an unrivaled era that produced one of the great urban civilizations of Western history.
Born in 1974, Tristram Hunt teaches modern British history at the University of London. He writes political and cultural commentary for the Los Angeles Times and Time, and has authored numerous radio and television series for the BBC and Channel 4. Since Charles Dickens first described Coketown in Hard Times, the Victorian city, born of the industrial revolution, has been a byword for deprivation, pollution, and criminality, depicted to this day as a monstrous landscape of factories, tenements, and disease. Yet, as historian Tristram Hunt argues, the Coketowns of the 1800s were far more than uncontrolled industrial sprawl. By 1851, more than half of Britain's population lived in cities, and even as these urban pioneers confronted an often terrifying new way of life, they produced an incredible flowering that would influence the shape of cities around the world for generations to come. Drawing on private diaries, provincial newspapers, and classic works of fiction, Hunt documents the Victorians' great energy and aspirations and shows how their ambition translated into an astonishingly grand vision of the utopian city on a hillthe new Jerusalem. He surveys the great civic creations, from town halls to city squares, sidewalks, and even sewers, to reveal a story of middle-class power and prosperity and the liberating mission of city life. Vowing to emulate the great city-states of Renaissance Italy with an ethos of civic pride and spurred by municipal rivalry, the Victorians did their best to turn even the smokestacks of Manchester and Birmingham into sites of hard work, freedom, and art. And they succeededuntil the twentieth century, when the loss of civic pride and the collapse of urban confidence transformed wealthy metropolises into dangerous inner cities. A history of proud cities and confident citizens, Building Jerusalem depicts an unrivalled era that produced one of the great urban civilizations of Western history. "Building Jerusalem is a key text which should be read by all politicians, in local and central government, and by anyone interested in the way we live now. It is deeply researched, but written in an highly accessible way, and the reader never loses sight of the vitally relevant and interesting story Tristram Hunt has to tell. It is history writing at its compulsive best."A.N. Wilson "Ambitious and convincing . . . a marvelous book."The Guardian
"There is a great deal to admire about Building Jerusalem, but no aspect of Tristram Hunt's 'rise and fall of the Victorian city'its scope, its clarity and the enthusiasm with which it celebrates its subjectis as impressive as the author's nerve . . . Hunt remains on his feet to the very end."The Observer (London) "Ambitious and articulate historians with a palpable design upon us seem to be the trend. If Niall Ferguson is the young gun from the right trying to persuade us that empire is benign, Tristram Hunt is his counterpart from the left . . . Hunts grasp of architectural, intellectual and high cultural history is assured."Financial Times
Review
"The Victorian era was a period of extremes: great wealth and terrible poverty; a massive expansion of cities, generating many splendid buildings, along with hideous urban pollution and a typical life expectancy of under 20 years. With learning, energy, and sophistication, Tristram Hunt draws together a wonderful history of the buildings of that era. I strongly recommend this book."--Richard Rogers
Synopsis
From Manchester's deadly cotton works to London's literary salons, a brilliant exploration of how the Victorians created the modern city
Since Charles Dickens first described Coketown in Hard Times, the nineteenth-century city, born of the industrial revolution, has been a byword for deprivation, pollution, and criminality. Yet, as historian Tristram Hunt argues in this powerful new history, the Coketowns of the 1800s were far more than a monstrous landscape of factories and tenements. By 1851, more than half of Britain's population lived in cities, and even as these pioneers confronted a frightening new way of life, they produced an urban flowering that would influence the shape of cities for generations to come.
Drawing on diaries, newspapers, and classic works of fiction, Hunt shows how the Victorians translated their energy and ambition into realizing an astonishingly grand vision of the utopian city on a hill--the new Jerusalem. He surveys the great civic creations, from town halls to city squares, sidewalks, and even sewers, to reveal a story of middle-class power and prosperity and the liberating mission of city life. Vowing to emulate the city-states of Renaissance Italy, the Victorians worked to turn even the smokestacks of Manchester and Birmingham into sites of freedom and art. And they succeeded--until twentieth-century decline transformed wealthy metropolises into dangerous inner cities.
An original history of proud cities and confident citizens, Building Jerusalem depicts an unrivaled era that produced one of the great urban civilizations of Western history.
Synopsis
"Hunt tells this complex, epic story with dazzling clarity and organizational brilliance . . . I know nothing equaling its scope and ambition."--Phillip Lopate, Los Angeles TimesEver since Charles Dickens first described Coketown in Hard Times, the nineteenth-century city has connoted deprivation, pollution, and criminality. Yet, as historian Tristram Hunt argues in this powerful new history, the Coketowns born of the Industrial Revolution were canvasas for ambitious urban innovators who would influence the shape of cities for generations.
Drawing on diaries, newspapers, and classic works of fiction, Hunt shows how the Victorians translated their energy and imagination into an astonishingly grand architecture, tranforming even the factories of Manchester and Birmingham into sites of freedom and art. Surveying the great civic creations, from town halls to city squares, sidewalks, and even sewers, Hunt reveals a story of middle-class power and the liberating mission of city life. The Victorians vowed to emulate the city-states of Renaissance Italy, and succeeded--until wealthy metropolises degenerated into dangerous inner cities in the twentieth century.
About the Author
Born in 1974, Tristram Hunt teaches modern British history at the University of London. He writes political and cultural commentary for the Los Angeles Times and Time magazine, and has authored numerous radio and television series for the BBC and Channel 4.