London in the twentieth century : a city and its people

This is the story of the social and political history of London in the 20th century. The book presents London as a city of sustained and sometimes delicately balanced paradoxes, and of diverse geography and peoples. From its fin de siecle imperial splendour, amidst pockets of appalling poverty, to its revitalized "swinging" status, tainted by racial tension today, London is shown as a truly global city. A brilliant, acclaimed book which examines one of the world's greatest cities during one of the most tumultuous centurieswinner of the Wolfson History prize. In 1901, London was the greatest city the world had seen in size, wealth, and grandeur. Yet it was also a city where poverty and disease were rife. London in 2001 was no longer among the world's very largest cities, but was still one where vast wealth was displayedalongside beggars sleeping rough. Such paradoxes are among the defining experiences of living in London in this extraordinary century, and in this colorful book Jerry White tells the story not just of London, but of Londoners too. He examines the changes to the worlds of work, transport, popular culture, politics, and government, and shows how London affects its inhabitants, shaping their lives and being shaped in turn by them. Beautifully illustrated and with a wealth of detail, this is a definitive and highly readable history of London in the 20th century. Jerry White's London in the Twentieth Century , Winner of the Wolfson Prize, is a masterful account of the city's most tumultuous century by its leading expert. In 1901 no other city matched London in size, wealth and grandeur. Yet it was also a city where poverty and disease were rife. For its inhabitants, such contradictions and diversity were the defining experience of the next century of dazzling change. In the worlds of work and popular culture, politics and crime, through war, immigration and sexual revolution, Jerry White's richly detailed and captivating history shows how the city shaped their lives and how it in turn was shaped by them. Tells the story not just of London, but of Londoners too. This book examines the changes on the worlds of work, transport, popular culture, politics and government and shows how London affects its inhabitants, shaping their lives and being shaped in turn by them. This is the story of the social and political history of London in the 20th century, presenting the city as one of sustained (and sometimes delicately balanced) paradox, and diverse geography and peoples