Johnson's Life of London: The People Who Made the City that Made the WorldThe exhilarating story of how London came to be one of the most exciting and influential places on earth—from the city’s colorful, witty, and well-known mayor. Once a swampland that the Romans could hardly be bothered to conquer, over the centuries London became an incomparably vibrant metropolis that has produced a steady stream of ingenious, original, and outsized figures who have shaped the world we know. Boris Johnson, the internationally beloved mayor of London, is the best possible guide to these colorful characters and the history in which they played such lively roles. Erudite and entertaining, he narrates the story of London as a kind of relay race. Beginning with the days when “a bunch of pushy Italian immigrants” created Londinium, he passes the torch on down through the famous and the infamous, the brilliant and the bizarre—from Hadrian to Samuel Johnson to Winston Churchill to the Rolling Stones—illuminating with unforgettable clarity the era each inhabited. He also pauses to shine a light on innovations that have contributed to the city’s incomparable vibrancy, from the King James Bible to the flush toilet. As wildly entertaining as it is informative, this is an irresistible account of the city and people that in large part shaped the world we know. |
Contents
MELLITUS | |
ALFRED THE GREAT | |
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR | |
GEOFFREY CHAUCER | |
The Flush Toilet | |
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE | |
The King James Bible | |
The Bow Street Runners | |
The Suit | |
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Johnson's Life of London: The People Who Made the City that Made the World Boris Johnson No preview available - 2013 |
Common terms and phrases
Alfred Anglo-Saxon Beatles became BORIS JOHNSON Boudica Britain British Briton burned called centre century Chaucer Christian church Churchill claim Constable crowd Dick Whittington Dodd empire England English famous father Florence Nightingale French genius German Hadrian helped honour Hooke houses human hundred Iceni invented J. M. W. Turner Jews Johnson Keith Keith Richards kind King King’s knew language Lionel Lionel Rothschild lived London Bridge look Lord Mary Seacole Mayor Mellitus merchants Mick ministers modern never Norman North Briton painting parliament play political poor population Queen revolution Richard Robert Hooke Rolling Stones Roman Rothschild Routemaster Royal Royal Surrey Gardens Saeberht Saxon seems Shakespeare ships Stead Stones story Street Thames theatre thing thought thousand took trade troops turned Turner Victorian wanted Westminster William women words wrote young