Underground London Audiobook (Unabridged)

" ... when Ford Maddox Ford wrote, "One may easily sail around England, or circumnavigate the globe. But not the most enthusiastic geographer... ever memorised a map of London. Certainly no one ever walks round it. For England is a small island, the world is infinitesimal amongst the planets. But London is illimitable." - p15 "

" Fascinating and fun, but the novelty wears off about half-way in. More on the sewers and less on Henry VIIIths tennis courts, please! "

" I thought it was good, London from the bottom up. "

" Having been to London, I was familiar with some of the names so I could visualize while reading. Being American, some of the verbiage and history was lost to me, but the book was pleasurable and informative. I had to sometimes fight to keep my interest in some bits because of the writing style that I found too wordy. I think the book would have been just as informative if Mr. Smith had left several of his words down in those famous sewers and places underground. I am glad I read it....mgc "

" Would have probably finished this book if it had maps in, got a bit sick of trying to work out where in LDN i actually was. However, loved some of the bits. Still can't find the British Museum stop on the central line and apparently i go through it every day! "

" Very nearly five stars. Well researched and brought to life by great writing. Vigorous language with an occasional wry tone made for entertaining reading. "

" A peek at what lies beneath the streets of London. Funny in parts, and full of quirky detail but couldn't help wishing that the author had cut back and just explored one or two eras in more depth. "

" For reasons unclear to me, I am a London geek. And this book is possibly my favourite. Industrial development. Underground structures and a great writing style. "

" I read some of this. Guess I have been a bit spoilt by reading Peter Ackroyd on London, and so all writers have a high bar to jump when it comes to writing about the capital. I found that my interest waned for this title. "

" A fascinating look at what lies beneath London, from Roman ruins to Tudor tennis courts to modern utility tunnels. And extremely well-written. One star off for not including pictures and maps -- they really would have helped. "

" The book was supposed to be an intriguing history of London, told from beneath the surface world. It was actually rather boring. The author seems to drone on and on in his own world of fascination, without transferring his enthusiasm to the reader. "

" c2004. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Informative yet so well written that it seems that you are effortlessly absorbing the information. Interesting quotations, oddball comments from similarly minded people. Factual yet not dry.... highly recommended. "

" Smith has a great voice for telling stories. It is also quite clear that he loves his subject matter. The book is very intersting and the last chapter in particular is fasincating. "

" The second time I've read it but always one I like to come back to. "

" Pretty cool stuff about the sewers and abbeys and underground stations of london. entertaining enough for that kind of thing. "

" The book was supposed to be an intriguing history of London, told from beneath the surface world. It was actually rather boring. The author seems to drone on and on in his own world of fascination, without transferring his enthusiasm to the reader. "

" Very nearly five stars. Well researched and brought to life by great writing. Vigorous language with an occasional wry tone made for entertaining reading. "

" A fascinating look at what lies beneath London, from Roman ruins to Tudor tennis courts to modern utility tunnels. And extremely well-written. One star off for not including pictures and maps -- they really would have helped. "

" Smith has a great voice for telling stories. It is also quite clear that he loves his subject matter. The book is very intersting and the last chapter in particular is fasincating. "

" This book fell more under the description of 'memoir' than 'history,' which is what I had been hoping for. "

" Fascinating and fun, but the novelty wears off about half-way in. More on the sewers and less on Henry VIIIths tennis courts, please! "

" I read some of this. Guess I have been a bit spoilt by reading Peter Ackroyd on London, and so all writers have a high bar to jump when it comes to writing about the capital. I found that my interest waned for this title. "

" Interesting tour of various features beneath the streets of London from former tributaries of the Thames which are now sewers to disused underground stations. Readable but not gripping. "

" Pretty cool stuff about the sewers and abbeys and underground stations of london. entertaining enough for that kind of thing. "