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London: A Life in Maps Paperback – June 15, 2007

by Peter Whitfield (Author)

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A city long shrouded in literary and historical mists--not to mention real ones--London seduces tourists and natives alike. From Big Ben to the grimy Victorian streets of Dickens novels on up to the sleek high-rises that dot the skyline of the twenty-first-century metropolis, the urban landscape of London is steeped in history, while forever responsive to the changing dictates of progress, industry, and culture. In London: A Life in Maps, acclaimed historian Peter Whitfield reveals a wealth of surprising truths and forgotten facts hidden in the city’s historic maps.

Whitfield examines nearly 200 maps spanning the last 500 years, all of which vividly demonstrate the vast changes wrought on London’s streets, open spaces, and buildings. In a rich array of colorful cartographic illustrations, the maps chronicle London’s tumultuous history, from the devastation of the Great Fire to the indelible marks left by World Wars I and II to the emergence of the West End as a fashion mecca. Whitfield reads historic sketches and detailed plans as biographical keys to this complex, sprawling urban center, and his in-depth examination unearths fascinating insights into the city of black cabs and red double-deckers. With engaging prose and astute analysis he also expertly coaxes out the subtle complexities—of social history, urban planning, and design—within the rich documentation of London’s immense and constantly changing cityscape.
London: A Life in Maps lets readers wander through the past and present of London’s celebrated streets—from Abbey Road to Savile Row—and along the way reveals the city’s captivating history, vibrant culture, and potential future.

Print length

208 pages
Language

English
Publisher

British Library
Publication date

June 15, 2007
Dimensions

8.25 x 0.6 x 11.25 inches
ISBN-10

9780712349192
ISBN-13

978-0712349192
See all details

Peter Barber
129
Hardcover
45 offers from $30.00

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Whitfield, the author of several books on maps, including Cities of the World, has produced a fascinating history of London organized around some 100 of the countless maps, panoramas, and plans created of the city over the last 500 years, going back to the earliest extant map. . . . Whitfield serves up an enjoyable mix of facts, both familiar and obscure, handsomely supported with contemporary illustrations in addition to the maps. . . . Anyone with an interest in the history of London or of maps generally will find much to enjoy. Recommended highly for public and academic libraries."
-- Linda M. Kaufmann ― Library Journal Published On: 2007-10-15

"[London] provides the reader with a good understanding of the evolution of one of the world's major cities, and includes many of the seminal maps for those interested in its cartographic history. It is a good book for just browsing the maps and illustrations, and it's appropriate for anyone with an interest in London and/or maps. . . . A very good value." -- Peter Porrazzo ― Portolan

About the Author

Peter Whitfield is former director of Stanfords International Map Centre in London. He is also the author of Cities of the World, New Found Lands, Astrology, The Image of the World, The Mapping of the Heavens, The Charting of the Oceans, Landmarks in Western Science, and Sir Francis Drake.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0712349197
Publisher ‏ : ‎ British Library; First Edition (June 15, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780712349192
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0712349192
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.94 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.25 x 0.6 x 11.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,502,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #443 in Historical Atlases & Maps (Books)
- #886 in Urban & Land Use Planning (Books)
- #2,432 in England History

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4.5 out of 5

124 global ratings

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Free2Read

Map Heaven!

Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2011

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"London: A Life in Maps" is absolutely the best tour through the history of London a student, a reader, or a historian could take.

I have always loved a novel that opens with a map. Here's a book that illustrates the changing city through the centuries and the decades.

Imagining the time of the Romans, of Shakespeare, of Queen Victoria is now easier with this handy resource.

I am writing a novel about 1760-1790 in London. This book shows many of the roads as they were in those times as well as the changes the architects imagined after the Great Fire.

First rate research.

9 people found this helpful

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Cathy W

Great book! with more than just maps.

Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2010

Verified Purchase

Having lived in London as a child, I found this book almost nostalgic. The maps are very detailed with excellent photos and illustrations; however, it is not just a collection of maps showing London through the ages, but a social & economic history of why and how the London landscape has changed and will continue to change while preserving the older historical areas. This book is a must for anyone who loves London or who just wants to know more about the greatest city in the world!

3 people found this helpful

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drollere

great overview with minor production flaws

Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2010

Verified Purchase

this is a handsome, entertaining and informative overview of the history of london from the late renaissance through modern times, animated by documentary representations of the city. the title is misleading, in that maps form only part of the visual narrative: we're also shown architectural engravings, landscape panoramas, historical paintings, literary illustrations, aerial photographs and other "views" of london. the text is usually arranged as one or two columns beside or facing the visual evidence, and is generally well written and anecdotal. this is an ideal book for young and old interested in english history, cartography, or urban development, and for anyone visiting london with enough time to really explore the city's museums and monuments. (my traveler tip: i encountered this book in the victoria & albert museum bookstore, and reserved it on amazon for delivery back home.)

i have several minor reservations about this edition. the quality of the reproductions and illustrations varies widely; the contrast or resolution of some maps or images is so low that they are effectively illegible (doré engravings, p.156; spurrier & phipps plan, p. 121; london railway, p.132; paddington parish, p.134; etc.), and some are jpeg files with compression artifacts (charing cross, p.136) or badly rescreened halftone images that produce moire patterns (wren's plan, p.118). (yes, the editorial difficulties in compiling images from so many sources were considerable ... but all the same.) the sewn binding is, for a trade paperback, superbly robust, but this makes it very difficult to open the book flat to examine the (many) maps printed across facing pages. i also regretted the lack of an archaeological or reconstruction map of roman and medieval london (the narrative starts in 1550), a synoptic map showing the gradually expanding urban limits, and a double page map of existing buildings, keyed by color to the period in which they were built.

35 people found this helpful

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Hampsteader

Great for map geeks like me

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2010

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Two things I love: historical maps and London - in one book.
It's a good mix of maps/graphics and supporting historical text - easy to read, not dry and organised by themes.
If you love maps and have an interest in the history and development of London, you really should buy this.

I was surprised by the good (physical) quality of the book too, as it seemed relatively inexpensive compared to similar books.

3 people found this helpful

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Barbara D. Zambrana

FASCINATING

Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2013

Verified Purchase

I received London: A Life In Maps" in great time and condition, and for a great price. I found it to be a fascinating research book where you can see through the changing maps, the changing face of London through time. I'm very satisfied - Thank You.

One person found this helpful

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HolJo

Buy a magnifying glass first...

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2011

Verified Purchase

I have been studying London history as a hobby, and was so excited when I found this book. The one thing that has been missing from many of the research books I've purchased is maps of the city and neighborhoods. The problem with this book is that some (not all) of the maps are printed so small that they are impossible to read. The book is filled with great information, so I recommend buying it if you are an enthusiast. But if you intend to look closely at the maps, then order a magnifying glass along with this book.

21 people found this helpful

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happy camper

Good book

Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2014

Verified Purchase

My son loves London and loves maps so this book will be perfect for him.I browsed through it and its very interesting. Lots of maps and he will love reading it.

One person found this helpful

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Tracy Dunn

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2017

Verified Purchase

great and easy to read

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Abcat

Excellent book at a good price

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2024

Verified Purchase

London: A Life in Maps is just what I was looking for. Over 100 maps & illustrations on nearly every one of its 208 pages. Will be a great resource for family history & general history of London research. This book was in excellent condition & recommended it to other group members, who ordered their own copies. The book was sent via tracked Royal Mail service & well packaged. Wouldn't hesitate to buy from this seller again.

Anthony Warcus

Invaluable reference work

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2023

Verified Purchase

Highly recommended as an invaluable reference work for anyone interested in the history and visual representations of London. This was the catalogue for the comprehensive 2006-7 British Library exhibition but it remains worth consulting for Peter Whitfield's concise and well-informed commentaries.

Some of the inscriptions on the maps may be hard to read even when an individual map is given a whole page or a double-spread; however, in those instances the reader is at liberty to cross-refer to the maps online while having Whitfield's useful observations to hand.

Janie U

Lots of areas covered

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2013

Verified Purchase

I bought this book for my husband who loves maps and loves London, so what could go wrong.
The author goes around London, area by area, giving each one 2 or 3 pages and there are always at least 2 or 3 maps in each section.
Lots of interesting information presented in a very easy to read way.
The only slight disappointment is how the book looks. I was expecting a hardback and had not even checked. It is, however, sold as a paperback and is absolutely fine but not quite as good looking on the coffee table as I had hoped!

3 people found this helpful

Nicholas Casley

Treasures to delight the eye and illuminate the mind

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2007

Verified Purchase

I love maps and I love London: what a combination!

This book is a companion to the exhibition held at the British Library in 2006-07. The book is split into four sections - London before the Great Fire, the age of elegance, the Victorian metropolis, and the shock of the new - and each section has a page or sometimes two pages devoted to particular aspects of each theme. Thus we have various maps and plans of the Tower and Westminster Abbey mixed with representations of Civil War London in the first section; and visions of Wembley and the Festival of Britain in the final section.

The result is akin to a visual version of Peter Ackroyd's biography of the city. You can dip into this marvellous publication at various points and find treasures to delight the eye and to illuminate the mind, be the maps and plans devoted to the underground, Belgravia, Wren's plans for the post-Fire city or Tudor Smithfield. Each page is concise and self-contained, but, taken as a whole, the vision is panoramic.

As one would expect from a publication by the British Library, the quality of impressive. As well as reproductions of maps and plans, there are also engravings, paintings and photographs to enliven the page. Peter Whitfield's commentary is wise and engaging. He is not afraid to comment on the brutalist tendencies of the post-war era, and his text is the perfect accompaniment to the image presented.

No quibbles? Well, there are two: firstly, although detailed catalogue references are given to the illustrated maps, some maps are surprisingly without a date (for example the map of Epping Forest on page 164). My second quibble - I want these maps!

90 people found this helpful

H. M. Kingston

Just up my street!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2010

Verified Purchase

I collect books about London and this was one of the best additions to my collection. The quality of the reproductions, including the quality of the paper they're on, is excellent. A plus point is that Peter Whitfield has not just included old maps of the City and the West End but has also used, to name just a few examples, maps of Whitechapel and the East End (of particular interest to me as I was born there), south London's new bridges and roads of the 19th century, and Hoxton. The last section of the book is entitled 'The Shock of the New': the Underground and the transformation of Docklands are just two examples from this section.

In addition there is informative and interesting accompanying history, traditional and social.

28 people found this helpful

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