1
of
1
Forgotten London
Exploring the Hidden Life of the City
Brief Description
No city shaped the modern world quite like London - a powerhouse of trade, finance and empire, the centre of global influence in the nineteenth century. But beyond the familiar stories of power and politics, its true life played out in the streets, where market traders,...
Read More
Format: Hardback
$5999
Unit price
/
Unavailable
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER
Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks
Found a better price? Request a price match
Forgotten London
$5999
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Step into the shadows of London's past with Peter Ackroyd as he uncovers the untold stories and forgotten lives that shaped the city. Packed with fascinating details and unexpected discoveries, this is a must-have for anyone who loves London and its rich history.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
No city shaped the modern world quite like London - a powerhouse of trade, finance and empire, the centre of global influence in the nineteenth century. But beyond the familiar stories of power and politics, its true life played out in the streets, where market traders, music hall crowds and factory workers gave it its vitality, its light and its shadows.
Forgotten London uncovers its stories, bringing to life the highs and lows of those who made the city what it was. Covering the transformative years from the Victorian era to the Second World War, this richly illustrated book - featuring rare photographs, colourised images and period artwork - immerses readers in a side of London often overlooked.
With Peter Ackroyd's masterful storytelling, it offers an unforgettable journey into the city's past. Step into its streets, meet its people - and see London as you've never seen it before.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780711287648
Publisher: Quarto Publishing PLC
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 09 October 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Frances Lincoln
Illustration: 200 images
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 29.0mm
Width: 190.0mm
Height: 245.0mm
Weight: 1100g
Pages: 256
About the Author
London has been the main character in the work of Peter Ackroyd ever since his first novel, The Great Fire of London. His Hawksmoor won the Whitbread and the Guardian Fiction Prize, Chatterton was shortlisted for the Booker, London: the Biography won the South Bank Show Annual Award for Literature. Reviewers commonly categorize him as the Dickens of our day.
Also by Peter Ackroyd
View all-
Foundation
The first volume in a new six-part history of England from acclaimed author Peter Ackroyd. Having written enthralling biographies of London and of its great river, the Thames, Peter Ackroyd now turns to England itself. This first volume of six takes us from the time that England was first settled, more than 15,000 years ago, to the death in 1509...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Tudors
Tudors by Peter Ackroyd transports readers back to one of the most fascinating and dramatic periods in British history. Rich in detail and atmosphere, and told in vivid prose, this enthralling narrative captures the transformation of England from a settled Catholic country to a formidable Protestant superpower. The book intricately traces the tumultuous reigns of the Tudor monarchs, beginning with...Paperback$7300Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The English Soul
The English Soul portrays the spirit and nature of English Christianity as it has developed over the last 1,400 years. As the predominant faith of the people, Christianity has been the reflection, perhaps the embodiment, of the English soul. This fascinating new history argues that Christianity has been the anchoring and defining doctrine of England, while accepting respectfully that other...Hardback$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Colours of London
Celebrated novelist, biographer, and critic Peter Ackroyd paints a vivid picture of one of the world's greatest cities in this brilliant and original work, exploring how the city's many hues have come to shape its history and identity. Think of the colours of London, and what do you imagine? The reds of open-top buses and terracotta bricks? The grey smog...Hardback$6500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The English Soul
Now available in paperback, The English Soul portrays the spirit and nature of English Christianity as it has developed over the last 1,400 years. As the predominant faith of the people, Christianity has been the reflection, perhaps the embodiment, of the English soul. This fascinating new history argues that Christianity has been the anchoring and defining doctrine of England, while...Paperback$5000Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
The English Actor
The English Actor charts the uniquely English approach to stagecraft. In thirty chapters, Peter Ackroyd describes, with superb narrative skill, the genesis of acting—deriving from the Church tradition of Mystery Plays—through the flourishing of the craft in the Renaissance to modern methods that followed the advent of film and television. The biographies of the most notable and celebrated actors are...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The English Actor
The English Actor charts the uniquely English approach to stagecraft. In thirty chapters, Peter Ackroyd describes, with superb narrative skill, the genesis of acting—deriving from the Church tradition of Mystery Plays—through the flourishing of the craft in the Renaissance to modern methods that followed the advent of film and television. The biographies of the most notable and celebrated actors are...Hardback$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Auden
Peter Ackroyd's compelling portrait of W. H. Auden, poet of a restless century. Of all the English poets born in the twentieth century, Wystan Hugh Auden is by far the most significant. This forthright biography explores the evolution of his poetic voice in tandem with his shifting beliefs—Existentialism, Marxism, Freudianism, and Anglo-Catholicism—reflecting the intellectual climate of the century. Rooted in...Hardback$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Civil War
Civil War by Peter Ackroyd is a masterful continuation of his stunning exploration of England's history. This volume begins with the ascension of James VI of Scotland to the English throne as James I, following the death of Elizabeth I. It traces the tumultuous and riveting history of England under the Stuart dynasty, concluding with the dramatic deposition and subsequent...PaperbackSold Out -
Revolution
Revolution, the fourth volume of Peter Ackroyd's enthralling History of England, begins in 1688 with a revolution and ends in 1815 with a famous victory. In it, Ackroyd takes readers from William of Orange's accession following the Glorious Revolution to the Regency, when the flamboyant Prince of Wales ruled in the stead of his mad father, George III, and England...PaperbackSold Out -
Dominion
The penultimate volume of Peter Ackroyd's masterful History of England series, Dominion begins in 1815 as national glory following the Battle of Waterloo gives way to post-war depression, spanning the last years of the Regency to the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901. In it, Ackroyd takes us from the accession of the profligate George IV, whose government was...PaperbackSold Out -
Innovation
Ackroyd makes history accessible to the layman - Ian Thomson, Independent Innovation brings Peter Ackroyd's History of England to a triumphant close. In it, Ackroyd takes readers from the end of the Boer War and the accession of Edward VII to the end of the twentieth century, when his great-granddaughter Elizabeth II had been on the throne for almost five...PaperbackSold Out
More from Travel & Adventure
View all-
The Salt Path
The bestselling true story of the couple who lost everything and embarked on a journey not of escape but salvation, soon to be a major motion picture starring Golden Globe winning Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, the couple lose their home and their livelihood. With...Paperback$2700Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Lonely Planet Japan
#1 Bestselling guidebook to Japan "Classic. Comprehensive. Crucial." - Library Journal Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Japan. Discover popular and off the beaten track experiences from visiting Yoshino for Japan's most famous cherry-blossom-viewing festival to sipping sake at a 300-year-old brewery in Niigata, and exploring the...Paperback$4100Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Maintenance: Of Everything
The first in-depth exploration of maintenance and a powerful argument for its civilisational importance from the author of How Buildings Learn and creator of the Whole Earth Catalog. Maintenance is what keeps everything going. It's what keeps life going. Yet it's also easy to shirk or defer until the thing breaks, the system falters, and everything stops. The apparent paradox...Hardback$7999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Abroad in Japan
The hilarious number one bestselling memoir from YouTube sensation Chris Broad, a Brit trying to assimilate into life in Japan as he unravels the wonders and eccentricities of one of the world's most mysterious cultures. When Englishman Chris Broad landed in a rural village in northern Japan, he wondered if he'd made a huge mistake. With no knowledge of the...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Cat's Tales
Once upon a time, the enchanting creature that is the cat infiltrated our lives – and our folklore. Cats have a long association with the supernatural – from being worshipped as gods in ancient Egypt to vilified as witches’ familiars in Europe – and they appear in countless fairy tales throughout history. Every part of the world has its own...Hardback$3099Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Penguin Lessons
Now a major film, this is the true story of an unlikely friendship between a flightless bird and a teacher out of his depth. When schoolteacher Tom Michell pulls a penguin from an oil slick off the coast of Uruguay, he has no idea what to do. Back at his apartment, Tom cleans him, but upon returning to the beach,...Paperback$2400Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Rambling Man
THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING HILARIOUS NEW BOOK FROM THE NATION'S FAVOURITE COMEDIAN, BILLY CONNOLLY "Being a Rambling Man was what I always wanted to be, to live the way I damn well pleased. I've met the weirdest and most wonderful people who walk the Earth, seen the most bizarre and the most fantastic sights - and I've rarely come across...Paperback$2299Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
22% offLonely Planet Pocket Lisbon
Lonely Planet's Pocket Lisbon is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life - neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Experience the city's most scenic tram routes, find the best pastéis de nata and discover the winding backstreets of Alfama; all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Lisbon and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Cozy Bookshops: Colouring Book
Cozy Bookshops—your ultimate escape into a world of bookish bliss and mindful relaxation in 46 adorable scenes, from the coziest book nooks. Wander labyrinthine bookshelves, sink into soft armchairs by roaring fireplaces, and lose yourself in snug, atmospheric corners. Escape, relax, and unwind with this colouring book for all skill levels and bring your own personality. The possibilities are endless!...Paperback$2000Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
22% off
Lonely Planet Pocket Porto
Lonely Planet's Pocket Porto is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life, neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Experience the historic Se cathedral, marvel at the stunning Palacio da Bolsa, and visit peacocks in Jardim do Palacio de Cristal, all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Porto and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Auto Biography
From one of the world's most popular motor journalists, a highly entertaining, clued-up and panoramic guide to cars. A highly entertaining, clued-up and panoramic guide to cars by Mat Watson, the world's most followed car journalist on social media. Mat Watson knows everything there is to know about cars. In his 25-year career as a motor journalist, he has driven...Hardback$4600Elsewhere:$6000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Brilliant Maps
With a foreword by Tim Harford Which nations have North Korean embassies? Which region has the highest number of death metal bands per capita? How many countries have bigger economies than California? Who drives on the 'wrong' side of the road? And where can you find lions in the wild? Revelatory, thought-provoking and fun, Brilliant Maps is a unique atlas...Paperback$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
