London's Secret Square Mile

"Sir, if you wish to have a just notion of the magnitude of this city, you must not be satisfied with seeing its great streets and squares, but must survey its innumerable little lanes and courts." Such was Samuel Johnson's advice to his companion Boswell, and more than two centuries later his advice is still just as valid. To a great degree the real London - the fascination of extraordinary goings-on during its long history, of famous Londoners past and present, and of some of its finest and most diverse architectural treasures - is often to be found not in its more famous streets and squares but in the small and obscure places which so many of us simply miss. David Long uncovers these forgotten locations and brings to life their fascinating history in his own inimitable style.

Auteur

Well-received by reviewers and readers alike, DAVID LONG's engaging, imaginative and well-informed books reflect an unquenchable thirst for those events and personalities that illuminate the past. An author and writer since leaving university, his work has appeared on TV and radio, as well as in The Times, countless magazines and London's Evening Standard. As well as being an award-winning ghostwriter, he has written a number of books on London, including London's 100 Strangest Places, London's 100 Most Extraordinary Buildings, London's Secret Square Mile, When Did Big Ben First Bong?, and the highly successful The Little Book of London.

Résumé
The streetscape of London's historic square mile has been evolving for centuries, but the City's busy commercial heart still boasts an extensive network of narrow passages and alleyways, secret squares and half-hidden courtyards. Using his wealth of local knowledge, historian David Long guides you through these ancient rights of passage many dating back to medieval times or earlier their evocative names recalling old taverns, notable individuals and City traditions. Hidden behind the glass, steel and stone of London's banks and big business, these survivors of modern development bear witness to nearly 2,000 years of British history.