Book description
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some special characters.
London is special. For centuries, it has been amongst the greatest
cities of the world. But a city is nothing without its people. This
sparkling new history of London, told through a relay-race of great
Londoners shows in one, personality-packed book that the ingenuity,
diversity, creativity and enterprise of London are second to none.
Boris Johnson believes that in order to understand London one has to
know about its past. The heart and spirit of London lies in its people,
in the range of its cultures. Through its diversity and energy, London
provides an environment which empowers people to create, the impetus to
invent. Boris Johnson's new book explores this cross current of
influences between Westminster and the City, between the politicians and
the wealth creators, over many centuries.
JOHNSON'S LIFE OF LONDON - a fitting tribute of course to one of the
greatest Londoners - celebrates many of the characters who have made
this city great. Boris's book provides a chronological story of London
but is written in the form of a relay race of biographies - some very
famous figures, some more obscure. He ranges from the Romans to one of
the author's predecessors as mayor, Dick Whittington; from John Wilkes
(a strong upholder of the freedom of the press) to J. W. Turner; from
Chaucer to Gandhi, and through to modern times.
Boris Johnson writes with wit and erudition, providing the reader with
delightful insights. The book discovers London as none of us have seen
it before and the journey is exhilarating and surprising. Praise for
'The Dream of Rome':
'Written with all the wit and zest that have helped to make him
Britain's favourite celebrity MP.' Tom Holland, Daily Telegraph
'Johnson has not been intimidated by dry classics masters: his style is
bright, breezy, populist and pacy.' The Times
'Described with his special combination of sharp-eyed intelligence and
golly-gosh exclamation…a splendid romp through the Roman world.' Sunday Telegraph
'Lovers of Latin and ancient history unite! At long last there is a
warm, funny, erudite introduction to the Roman empire…a marvellous
reader-friendly account of Rome.' Independent
'History comes alive only when written from the heart and Johnson's is
full of swashbuckling japes, bloodthirsty yells and energetic
sideswipes.' Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday Boris Johnson was elected
Mayor of London in May 2008. Before this he was the Editor of the
Spectator and Member of Parliament for Henley on Thames. He is the
author of many books, notably Have I Got Views for You and Dream of
Rome.
