The Victorian City

Everyday Life in Dickens' London

By: Judith Flanders

Narrated by: Corrie James

The 19th century was a time of unprecedented change, and nowhere was this more apparent than London. In only a few decades, the capital grew from a compact Regency town into a sprawling metropolis of six-and-a-half million inhabitants, the largest city the world had ever seen. Technology - railways, street-lighting, and sewers - transformed both the city and the experience of city living, as London expanded in every direction.

Now, Judith Flanders, one of Britain's foremost social historians, explores the world portrayed so vividly in Dickens' novels, showing life on the streets of London in colorful, fascinating detail. From the moment Charles Dickens, the century's best-loved English novelist and London's greatest observer, arrived in the city in 1822, he obsessively walked its streets, recording its pleasures, curiosities, and cruelties.

Now, with him, Flanders leads us through the markets, transport systems, sewers, rivers, slums, alleys, cemeteries, gin palaces, chop-houses, and entertainment emporia of Dickens' London, to reveal the Victorian capital in all its variety, vibrancy, and squalor.

©2012 Judith Flanders (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A superb portrait of an exciting, thriving, and dangerous city." ( Booklist)

An immersive depiction of Victorian life

The detail in this book of victorian life is immense and creates an immersive picture of the daily life and struggles of victorian people. I also enjoyed the use of Charles Dickens and his life in this book because he was such a prolific writer that examined the zeitgeist of this time. Great read for anyone who enjoys history or historical non-fiction.

Wonderful book

Submerges reader into the streets and life of victorian London. Best book I have listened to on the subject and the narrator was perfect. I would highly recommend this audio book.

Boring London

Some of the book was quite interesting but much was boring. If you’re into traffic patterns in 19th century London this is for you. Narrator was excellent.

A interesting take on 1800s london.

I purchased this book on a whim and loved every minute of it. The author balances the light and dark aspects of life well, and the reader's voice and style keep you entertained as if being ready a classic story. highly recommend.

Understand what it is.

This isn’t a story. It’s an incredible exploration of what life was like in 1800s London. It goes into income, living situations, work life, cooking, how the roads were paved, transportation, and on and on. Don’t expect a story and you’ll have a great time.

Time machine

Sweeps one back in time and place. So much walking, so much air pollution. Very well written and performed.

If you like Dickens...

It is a fascinating look at the city of London, but I must not have read the summary well enough. I assumed the book was about life in Victorian London 1837-1901, not London of 1820-1870. Don't get me wrong, it is still an interesting listen, but I was more interested in London than Dickens and this seems more a book about Dickens' life in London.

Exactly as advertised with excellent narration

Listen to this book to immerse yourself in Victorian London and better appreciate the works and life of Charles Dickens. Not a biography, but a guide to living in the city during the era, with all the good and bad things that went along with that.

The author cleverly uses Dickens's great powers of observation to explore the history and evolution of city life. The topical chapters were well-organized and included a lot of detail about subjects like cemeteries, weather, immigration, markets, prostitution, food, transportation, entertainment, sewage, and much more.

I do wish I'd had an interactive map, or series of maps, of London so I could follow along better. It would have helped to be more familiar with the neighborhoods and streets discussed.

The audiobook was expertly narrated by Corrie James.

Fascinating and engrossing

Perfection all around - from an intriguing dive into the reality of life in the era to the wonderful narration. Very well told and well performed.

Great listen for Dicken's Fans

The narration was excellent. The detail provided was exactly what I wanted. I can tell this will be one of those I will listen to again. I thoroughly enjoyed it!