"'Out of this babble of voices, Michael Paterson has been able to extract the essence of London itself. Read this book and re-enter the labyrinth of the now ancient city.' (Peter Ackroyd)"

Michael Paterson, a lifelong Dickens enthusiast, has a knowledge of London's history acquired through three decades of intensive study, and conducts tours of the Victorian city. This is his fourth book for David & Charles. He lives in Walworth, South London.

Foreword by Peter Ackroyd; Introduction; 1 The Place; 2 The People; 3 Shops and Shopping; 4 City and Clerk; 5 Transport and Travel; 6 Entertainment; 7 The Poor; 8 Crime and Punishment; 9 The Respectable; Chronology; Gazetteer and Map; Bibliography and Sources; Index.