An enthralling miscellany of fascinating facts about London, in bestselling format.
Christopher Winn's first book was the bestselling I Never Knew That About England. Volumes on Ireland, Scotland, Wales, London, the English, Irish and Scottish followed and he has recently published books on the Lake District, Yorkshire and the River Thames alongside an illustrated edition of I Never Knew That About England. A freelance writer and collector of trivia for over 20 years, he has worked with Terry Wogan and Jonathan Ross and sets quiz questions for television as well as for the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph. He is married to artist Mai Osawa, who illustrates all the books in the series. His website is www.i-never-knew-that.com.
A delightful and informative addition to the capital's literary
legacy...I Never Knew that about London will not fail to enhance
months, even years, of gentle urban exploration...Any number of
morning or weekend outings can be constructed from these rich
pages...Winn's touch is always light, and his knowledge is never
overbearing, so the selections and observations remain unfailingly
interesting
*Guardian online*
Winn (I Never Knew That About England) shares facts both great and small about one of the most vibrant cities on Earth. His preface perfectly encapsulates London-"It has Roman walls, Norman towers, Tudor palaces, Renaissance splendor, Victorian grandeur, and breath-taking modern wonders." The book is divided by the city's codes, making it helpful to cover the city more efficiently area by area. The illustrations are subtle and lovely. Entries vary in length, e.g., the one for Hatchard's Bookshop, the oldest in Britain, is only 35 words. The book helpfully features an excellent index of people from Lenin to Lennon, along with kings, queens, military leaders, and stars of every sort, just to note a few of the vast inclusions. An index of places is briefer and somewhat less comprehensive. A gazetteer has everything a tourist might need: addresses (street and Internet), days and hours of operation, phone number, and nearest underground stop. Verdict Perfect for all of those who love London whether as an armchair or actual traveler, especially in this year of the Olympics.-Susan G. Baird, formerly with Oak Lawn P.L., IL (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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