Description
Book SynopsisIn which part of North London were wild beasts once thought to roam the sewers?
Why did 1920s working-class Londoners wear necklaces of blue beads?
Who was the original inspiration for the ''pearly king'' costume?
And did Spring-heeled Jack, scourge of Victorian London, ever really exist?
Exploring everything from local superstitions and ghost stories to annual customs, this is an enchanting guide to the ancient legends and deep-rooted beliefs that can be found the length and breadth of the city.
Trade Reviewa wonderful collection of stories and legends, to be recommended to anyone who is at least half in love with the dark side of London's past. -- Peter Ackroyd * The Times *
[An] absorbing compendium by folklore expert Steve Roud. He excavates the history of the capital, from obscure suburban streets to famous sites like the Tower of London * The London Paper *
I've been enthralled ... The book's real strength lies [in] its exposure of deeper levels of custom, tradition and magical thinking that lie beneath the smooth Tarmac of contemporary realism -- Will Self * Evening Standard *
A spellbinding study of our city's folklore ... digs through layers of hearsay and speculation to investigate how and why the stories and traditions arose in the first place * Newham Recorder *
An absorbing and fascinatingly thorough book * Harrow Observer *
