The Victorian City

Everyday Life in Dickens' London

By: Judith Flanders

Narrated by: Corrie James

Length: 16 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

The 19th century was a time of unprecedented change, and nowhere was this more apparent than London. In only a few decades, the capital grew from a compact Regency town into a sprawling metropolis of six-and-a-half million inhabitants, the largest city the world had ever seen. Technology - railways, street-lighting, and sewers - transformed both the city and the experience of city living, as London expanded in every direction.

Now, Judith Flanders, one of Britain's foremost social historians, explores the world portrayed so vividly in Dickens' novels, showing life on the streets of London in colorful, fascinating detail. From the moment Charles Dickens, the century's best-loved English novelist and London's greatest observer, arrived in the city in 1822, he obsessively walked its streets, recording its pleasures, curiosities, and cruelties.

Now, with him, Flanders leads us through the markets, transport systems, sewers, rivers, slums, alleys, cemeteries, gin palaces, chop-houses, and entertainment emporia of Dickens' London, to reveal the Victorian capital in all its variety, vibrancy, and squalor.

©2012 Judith Flanders (P)2017 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"A superb portrait of an exciting, thriving, and dangerous city." ( Booklist)

Endless Lists

While a decent amount of information, it would probably be more efficient to just buy a book of lists. This book has endless, boring lists, which could’ve been summed up in a simple example =|

UNFORTUNATLY DISAPPOINTED, IS NOT INTERESTING

I love the Victorian Era, I collect Strand Magazines from that era, and hence was straining at the leash to get started on this book, but soon I was let down. It is list upon list.

For instance, the railway stations that were built at the time. One gets list of railway stations, how big they were, how long they took to build, problems encountered with building them, the financial costs etc, and so it goes on. Then we have list of roads, list of the most common crimes, each chapter sprinkled with text from a Charles Dickens novel. What is missing is the people. It really was so disappointing that the author had not populated the book with Victorians and their lives, more just what was Victorian London. It makes the book very sterile.

Like that teacher at school who takes a great subject and just makes it weary to listen to. Every chapter is loaded with rather uninteresting data, each finds one not being emotional attached or feeling as though one is there. Such a shame.

Time machine

Sweeps one back in time and place. So much walking, so much air pollution. Very well written and performed.

Amazingly Detailed Look at the Dickensian Era!

I'm a history buff in general, but I particularly enjoy details of everyday life from a historical period - what it was like to get dressed, commute to work, grab a meal on the way, go enjoy yourself on the town, etc. This book is chock full of fascinating minutia like that.

After listening to this, I think I'm prepared to re-read some of my old favorites from Dickens and probably get a deeper understanding of the narrative.

A interesting take on 1800s london.

I purchased this book on a whim and loved every minute of it. The author balances the light and dark aspects of life well, and the reader's voice and style keep you entertained as if being ready a classic story. highly recommend.

Wonderful book

Submerges reader into the streets and life of victorian London. Best book I have listened to on the subject and the narrator was perfect. I would highly recommend this audio book.

Excellent!

Phenomenal work! If you read Victorian novelists, especially Dickens, or if you have an interest in Victorian history, this book is an absolute must-read!

Understand what it is.

This isn’t a story. It’s an incredible exploration of what life was like in 1800s London. It goes into income, living situations, work life, cooking, how the roads were paved, transportation, and on and on. Don’t expect a story and you’ll have a great time.

Great listen for Dicken's Fans

The narration was excellent. The detail provided was exactly what I wanted. I can tell this will be one of those I will listen to again. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Very informative

This book gave a thorough, vivid sense of London streets in the mid-1800s. It would be perfect for someone doing research to write historical fiction.