London Made Us

A Memoir of a Shape-Shifting City

By: Robert Elms

Narrated by: Robert Elms

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Robert Elms has seen London change beyond all imagining: the house he grew up in is now the behemoth that is the Westway flyover, and areas once deemed murder miles have morphed into the stuff of estate agents' dreams, seemingly in a matter of months.

Elms takes us back through time and place to myriad Londons. He is our guide through a place that has seen scientific experiments conducted in subterranean lairs, a small community declare itself an independent nation and animals of varying exoticism roam free through its streets; a place his great-great-grandfather made the Elms' home over a century ago and a city that has borne witness to epoch - and world-changing events.

'This is a shape-shifting city, happy to shed its skin of brick and stone for steel and glass, to jettison the unprofitable unsentimentally, to abandon the unfashionable and discard the undesirable. London is a giant kaleidoscope, which is forever turning. Take your eye off it for more than a moment and you're lost.'

©2019 Robert Elms (P)2019 Canongate Books Ltd

Superb love story about our nations capital

Brilliant, thoroughly enjoyed this.
Having read alot about london history, this is easily one of the very best! Historical and cultural analytical stories and facts collide in a beautifully written and presented ode to an ancient city brimming with modernity.
The only point I would argue is- Elms's far too accepting and forgiving views of the dreadful plastic, steel and glass ugliness of the modern, commercially obsessed, outpriced, financially elite, so called evolving city.
London's fascinating cultural history is being erased far more than ever before, to the point whereby I myself no longer recognise it from the playground of my youth a mere 20 years ago, but this book is a reminder that that I'm not the only one missing a city that's supposedly still here.

Brilliant!

I wasn’t sure how relevant this book would be to me, as I’m a generation younger than the author. I needn’t have worried; from the first
Chapter I was hooked. I know LONDON pretty well but the collection of stories in this wonderful book have given me a new perspective on certain parts of London. Who knew about ‘Frestonia’!!! Roy.

Really Enjoyable!

Excellent history of London, covering lots of aspects. I would highly recommend even as a Geordie.

LONDON MADE US- it certainly reminded me of the good and not so good London.

This is the most fabulous memoir of a talented man in so many ways. Having lived in the same area of NW London, I whole heartedly agree with his brilliant descriptions of the old and the new. The carefree times through the 60s, 70s etc. and how the the present day compares is written by a knowledgeable wordsmith. Even if you don’t live in London, it’s a great read and it will stir up some memories you lived through or heard about.

Memories

A brilliant listen or read for all middle aged people who used London during the 80's.

fantastic ode to London past and present

I've enjoyed this book immensely twice, originally in the written form and again by listening to the authors own voice.

Left wing political bias

Open left wing bias, claiming institutional racism against black 'rude boy' London gangs and rioters

Completely gripping

What a joy this was! Robert is an exact contemporary of mine and through his words I relived the twists and turns of our great city. Not only can he tell a cracking story but his continual analysis of history (and the people who make it ) was profound and beautifully expressed. Thank you Robert.

Glorious!

A tour de force and indulgent treat for an old Londoner of the same vintage as the incomparable Mr Elms

A great listen,

If you're a Londoner or a Greater Londoner of a similar age, this book will bring the memories flooding back.