A Great and Monstrous Thing

Jerry White

“[A] brilliant account of the bursting, overflowing city, with its glittering wealth and harrowing poverty.”—The Financial Times

“Together with Iain Sinclair and Peter Ackroyd, White is one of our great chroniclers of London and this beautifully written, impeccably researched and incredibly generous book is a necessity for those of us who are not yet tired of life.”—Frances Wilson, The Telegraph

“[A] magisterial history of London… The book hums with vitality…a gripping story.”—Norma Clarke, The Times Literary Supplement

“In addition to its appeal to the average interested reader, White’s book will prove to be an invaluable resource to future academics. This work is as close to pure history as a book can be… A Great and Monstrous Thing will likely serve its audience for generations to come.”—Jennifer Vega, PopMatters

“The titular superlative, courtesy of Daniel Defoe, aptly fits this engrossing history of the city that by 1700 had surpassed Paris to become the largest in Europe… White’s encyclopedic knowledge may, like bustling London, overwhelm some, but this is still a richly satisfying compendium of history, biography, anecdote, and statistics on the great city’s daily life, vibrant culture, and byzantine politics.”—Publishers Weekly

Related Links

• At PopMatters, read an excerpt from A Great and Monstrous Thing—on the “ménage of misfits” collected by Samuel Johnson during his 47 years in the great city

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