London In The Twentieth Century

London ended the twentieth century as it had begun it: a city of paradox. In 1901 it 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 displayed - alongside beggars sleeping rough.

Such paradoxes are among the defining experiences of living in London, and in this colourful book Jerry White tells the story not just of London, but of the Londoner too. He examines the changes in the worlds of work, transport, popular culture, policing and crime, politics and government, and shows how immigration has made London a truly global city. Above all, he shows how London affects its inhabitants, shaping their lives and being shaped by them in turn.

Beautifully illustrated and with a wealth of detail, this is a definitive and highly readable history of London in the twentieth century.