London in the Twentieth Century

A brilliant, acclaimed book which examines one of the world's greatest cities during one of the most tumultuous centuries--winner of the Wolfson History prize. In 1901, London was the greatest city the world had seen in size, wealth, and grandeur. Yet it was also a city where poverty and disease were rife. London in 2001 was no longer among the world's very largest cities, but was still one where vast wealth was displayed--alongside beggars sleeping rough. Such paradoxes are among the defining experiences of living in London in this extraordinary century, and in this colorful book Jerry White tells the story not just of London, but of Londoners too. He examines the changes to the worlds of work, transport, popular culture, politics, and government, and shows how London affects its inhabitants, shaping their lives and being shaped in turn by them. Beautifully illustrated and with a wealth of detail, this is a definitive and highly readable history of London in the 20th century.