New York Times Notable Book 1995: London: A Social History (Paperback)

from OneMorePage

Porter gives a good overview of London's rise as a great city, then a detailed view of its society (poor, rich, and in-between) during the long 19th century, covering the rise of capitalism and the Victorian era. If you are interested in the English classics (Defoe, Dickens, Doyle, etc.), this is...

from klai

Porter's history of London is readable, entertaining and informative, its only fault being that of length (and of the focus on the 19th century, but this is a matter of taste). While the book itself doesn't slacken in pace or passion, towards the end, the reader cannot but flag at all the facts a...

from antiquary

Although this history starts at the beginning of London, it reaches the Reformation by page 45 (of over 400 pages) so it i primarily about early modern and modern London