The London Metropolitan Archives collects, preserves, celebrates and shares the stories of London and Londoners. They also have a book group, open to all, that meets monthly to explore a range of London writing, fiction or non-fiction, for all periods in London history. Not only do participants get to discuss the book, they also get a private view of relevant archival material called up specially for the occasion.
Intrigued? Listen in as we journey back to a time when London fog was so thick people got lost and never returned home, discover divisive melancholy classic Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton and venture into London’s fantasy underland with Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere. Plus lots more book recommendations from archivists Claire and Charlie.
Book recommendations
Our booklist for this episode:
- City of the Mind by Penelope Lively
- This is London by Ben Judah
- Margery Allingham’s Campion Novels, including The Tiger in the Smoke
- Mrs Dalloway and The Years by Virginia Woolf,
- Mr Loverman and Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
- James Boswell’s London Journal
- Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton
- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
- Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series
Notes
Find out why This is London by Ben Judah is our most downloaded episode yet.
If you’re interested in joining, you can stay up to date with the LMA book club by following them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @ldnmetarchives. And you can find Claire on Instagram @clairelouisetitley and Charlie @charliebooksandcoffee
