Well researched, wonderfully written, fabulous photos
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Sequels aren't meant to be as good as the original, are they, but having enjoyed David Long's SPECTACULAR VERNACULAR last year I had to have this one, and I'm not disappointed. Far from it. In fact for anyone bored with all those London books which just go over the same old ground again (Tower of London, yawn) these two books have been a revelation to me. Packed full of places and buildings most of us don't even notice, and with every one photographed and explored by an author with a real talent for the subject, they're original, funny, and above all fascinating in terms of the detail, the history and the personalities they describe and which together make London what it is today.
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Strange - but irresistable
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Bought the book for the photographs - 100s of black and whites, of so many strrange but largely unknown buildings - but actually it's even better to read with lots of good anecdotes about the people who built them, who lived in them, or who occupy them now. Great snoopers' guide to London behind closed doors, and quite unique
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Strange tales from a familiar city
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I loved this book. Fell upon it by chance, liked the reviews and bought it immediately. Striking photographs by the author - every place described is pictured - and witty, informative text from a writer who clearly loves the city and knows his stuff. So much I didn't know about my home city - and a great encouragement to get out there and explore. Ten out of ten
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Fab stuff
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Whether you're local or just visiting, an explorer or a reader, the subject
of this book can't fail to hook you if you're interested in London. Besides
tunnels, towers and temples, it's packed full of strange houses (old and
new), secret corners, bizarre bits of history and colourful descriptions of
the sort of great places which most of us walk by without noticing everyday
of the week. Not just central London either, but all over.
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Loved it
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If you're looking for a beautifully illustrated book on London which isn't the same as all the others, this is it, truly. As the title suggests there's a hundred strange places in here - strange in that you won't know them at all, or if you think you do you don't really, or even if you really do you almost certainly won't know the extraordinary stories behind them. The author does, however, and tells them here with super photography, a nice, very readable writing style, and most of all the sort of wit and enthusiasm which can't fail to bring the place alive for Londoners new, old and ex.
Loved it.
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