Read London - 10 titles that epitomise this iconic city
Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna
Maggie and Ed are having a baby and moving out of London to the suburbs. But Ed's having panic attacks and has a history with Phil, which he's hiding from Maggie. Phil is in a relationship with his housemate Keith, but Keith has a boyfriend. Callum, Phil's older brother is settling down to get married, but his drinking and drug dealing is getting in the way, and their mother Rosaleen is struggling to find a way to tell her sons she is dying. From the ponds on Hampstead Heath to the Thames, from heaving nightclubs and parties in the heart of the bustle to quiet suburbs, London acts as a main character in McKenna's pulsating story of friendship and love.
Read for: Millennial novel, coming of age, family and friendship, London in the summer, queer stories
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Aaronovitch weaves elements of London folklore, mythology, and history into the narrative. The idea that the rivers of London have their own gods and spirits is a central concept, drawing on ancient beliefs and traditions associated with the city. Historical events and figures are also referenced, adding depth and context to the story. The series is not just set in London; it is about the very essence of London, with the city's history, geography, and culture are integral to the story.
Read for: urban fantasy, humour, magic and magical creatures, diverse bad guys, creative world building.
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Few authors epitomise London as much as Dickens did, meticulously describing London's streets, buildings, and atmosphere. From the grandeur of wealthy neighborhoods to the squalor of the slums, he painted a vivid picture of the city in all its contrasts. His descriptions are so detailed that readers can practically walk the streets alongside his characters. While many of Dickens' novels are set in the city, we've picked the story of the orphan urchin boy Oliver Twist as our favourite.
Read for: classic Victorian literature, child point of view, poverty and social justice, good vs evil, identity and belonging.
Mrs. Dalloway by Virigina Woolf
As Clarissa Dalloway leaves her post World War I London house to 'buy the flowers herself', she takes her readers on a steam of consciousness walk around the city, a walk that is a vital element of the story, revealing her character, her connection to the city, and the novel's larger themes. Mrs. Dalloway's walk is juxtaposed with Septimus Smith's PTSD influenced wanderings, and while Clarissa finds joy and connection in the city, Septimus is overwhelmed by its noise and chaos, reflecting his mental instability and alienation.
Read for: Social commentary, post-war, time and memory, class and strata, the human condition
Set against the backdrop of the 2008 global financial crisis, the residents of Pepys Road deal with upheavals in their lives in different ways. The banker who has over extended himself, the 'shadow' refugee parking warden, the Pakistani corner shop owners, the young Senegalese footballer all exist inside the microcosm of the street, reflecting the state-of-nation on a small scale. This is a very human reflection of the great city.
Read for: Interconnecting stories, humour in difficult times, migrant voices, social commentary, community
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
Bridget Jones tells her story through diary entries over the course of a year. A 32-year-old woman working in public relations in London, she is witty, self-deprecating, and often insecure about her weight, career, and love life. Determined to improve herself and find a fulfilling relationship, Bridget finds herself torn between her charming but unreliable boss, Daniel Cleaver, and the seemingly aloof but ultimately kind barrister, Mark Darcy. A play on Pride and Prejudice, this cult classic epitomises the Gen X mid 1990s struggle to find themselves in the big city.
Read for: self deprecating humour, modern retellings, romance, 1990s vibes
Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks
Although the second half of Fire Rush is set in Jamaica, the first half captures the 1970s and '80s underground dub reggae scene in London. Pulsating and beating like the music she writes about, Crooks captures the passion and visceral rhythms of the Jamaican diaspora, while also exploring the political climate of the time, with racial tensions, police brutality, and economic hardship prevalent.
Read for: music, love stories, tragedy, social and political unrest, diasporic writings, identity and belonging
Slough House, a drab, run-down building far removed from MI5's Regent's Park headquarters houses the 'Slow Horses' team, a motley crew of current and former intelligence officers, hackers and drunks. Exiled from the action, they somehow manage to find themselves caught up in some real intelligence work, either by their own hand or by accident. Herron's London isn't the glamorous, touristy version. He depicts a realistic, gritty city with its diverse neighborhoods, back alleys, and hidden corners as the characters move through real locations, giving the stories a strong sense of place.The series is a refreshing take on the spy thriller genre, offering a darkly comedic and often cynical view of the world of espionage.
Read for: spy thrillers, underdogs made good, class and social commentary, redemption and second chances, dark humour
Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
The world's most famous detective, operating from 221B Baker Street, has been written about by countless authors and made into movies and tv shows for decades. Holmes and London are inextricably linked, with the name evoking scenes of Victorian and Edwardian London almost as much as the works of Dickens does. Written in a time when the city was experiencing rapid growth, social change and industrialisation, the resulting London fog also plays a roll, obscuring the streets and alleys the criminals work from.
Read for: classic detective novels, science based criminal investigations, clever plots, intriguing characters, good vs evil
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
In a south London neighbourhood undergoing gentrification, Queenie, a 25 year old grandchild of Jamaican immigrants, deals with racism, sexism, sex while finding how she fits into in the world. This witty, honest and relatable portrayal of a young Black woman's experiences in modern society is refreshingly cringy and badass, reinventing Bridget Jones 20 years later.
Read for: messy breakups, coming of age, race, mental health, modern life and all its complexities,
