Johnson's Life of London: The People Who Made the City That Made the World - Hardcover

Johnson, Boris

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1594487472 ISBN 13: 9781594487477

Publisher: Riverhead Books, 2012

Synopsis

London is still the mother ship for Americans, many of whom share the opinion of its tousle-headed, bicycle-riding mayor - that indeed it's the best city in the world. And as the capital takes center of the world stage with the 2012 Olympics, who better than Boris (as he is known) to convey how London became one of the most exciting and influential places on Earth?

Wearing his brilliance and erudition with characteristic wit, Boris narrates the story of his city as a kind of relay race of outsized characters, beginning with the days when "a bunch of pushy Italians" created Londinium. He passes the torch on down through a procession of the famous and infamous, the brilliant and the bizarre - from Hadrian to Shakespeare to Florence Nightingale to the Rolling Stones- illuminating with unforgettable clarity each figure and the era he or she inhabited. He also pauses to shine a light on places and developments that have contributed to the city's incomparable vibrancy, from the flush toilet to the King James Bible. As wildly entertaining as it is informative, this is an irresistible account of the city and people that in large part shaped the world we know.

About this title

Review:

Praise for ‘The Dream of Rome’:

‘Written with all the wit and zest that have helped to make him Britain’s favourite celebrity MP.’ Tom Holland, Daily Telegraph

‘Johnson has not been intimidated by dry classics masters: his style is bright, breezy, populist and pacy.’ The Times

‘Described with his special combination of sharp-eyed intelligence and golly-gosh exclamation...a splendid romp through the Roman world.’ Sunday Telegraph

‘Lovers of Latin and ancient history unite! At long last there is a warm, funny, erudite introduction to the Roman empire...a marvellous reader-friendly account of Rome.’ Independent

‘History comes alive only when written from the heart and Johnson’s is full of swashbuckling japes, bloodthirsty yells and energetic sideswipes.’ Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday

About the Author:

Boris Johnson is the very popular and internationally known Mayor of London. Educated at Oxford, he began his career as a journalist, writing for theTimes and the Telegraph (for whom he still contributes a regular column), and working his way up to editor of the Spectator. He is the author ofJohnson’s Life of London (Riverhead, 2012) and The Churchill Factor (Riverhead, 2014). He was elected to the House of Commons in 2001 and served there until he was elected Mayor in 2008. Johnson is a regular on British television and radio. He lives in London with his wife and four children.

About this edition

• Publisher: Riverhead Books
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1594487472
• ISBN 13: 9781594487477
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320