A Short History of London

A handsome book ... full of the good judgements one might hope for from such a sensible and readable commentator, and they alone are worth perusing for pleasure and food for thought

Michael Wood, New Statesman on A Short History of England

Any passably cultured inhabitant of the British Isles should ask for, say, three or four copies of this book for Christmas...I can imagine no better companion on a voyage across England

Max Hastings, Daily Telegraph on England’s Thousand Best Houses

A short, invigorating gallop over two and a half thousand years

Allan Massie, Scotsman on A Short History of Europe

Extremely informative and witty

Roy Porter, author of London: A Social History, on Landlords to London

Simon Jenkins has written a remarkably brisk, vivid and deeply well-informed account of London's history which is throughout much enlivened by his knowledge of London's planning, buildings and topography, his admiration for terrace housing and London squares, his interest in how London has been depicted and described, and his detestation of so much insensitive modern development

Charles Saumarez Smith, Professor of Cultural History, Queen Mary University of London

Jenkins's handling of the preceding two millennia is clear and informative . . . there are also nuggets and insights . . . accessible, clear and readable

Rowan Moore, The Observer

Simon Jenkins has written a vivid and deeply well-informed account of London's history which is throughout much enlivened by his knowledge of London's planning, buildings and topography, his admiration for terrace housing and London squares, his interest in how London has been depicted and described, and his detestation of so much insensitive modern development

Charles Saumarez Smith, Professor of Cultural History, Queen Mary University of London and former Chief Executive of the Royal Academy

Fascinating and timely. Truly the story of the fabric we see before us. Required reading for every developer, planner or councillor who holds London in trust today

Griff Rhys Jones

'He [Jenkins] brings much knowledge and experience to his defence of those streets, in this study of the battle for "London's appearance - why it looks as it does today, more variegated and visually anarchic than any comparable city"

Christopher Howse, The Telegraph

'I decided I'd reduce the height of a pile of recommended books by actually reading some of them. Thus I sampled the delights of Simon Jenkins's A Short History of London

Sue MacGregor, broadcaster