This lecture is about London’s place in English literary and cultural history. We shall trace London’s development in terms of material and social structures and its rise to prominence as Europe’s first modern metropolis. Doing so, we shall consider the interplay between structures of the “brick and mortar” type and evolving urban patterns of behaviour. London’s social topography and typical modes of perception of the city and city life will also be among this lecture’s key topics.
At the same time, London will be regarded both as an emerging centre of printing and publishing and as a setting used in a large number of literary texts. London provided a unique set of special conditions for the production, marketing and reception of literature. It also featured as a major topic in many of the texts produced there; such texts both reflected and propagated perceptions of and attitudes towards the metropolis.
This lecture will give you a chance to become acquainted with a wide range of literary texts and historical sources, some of which have recently become available in digital format. It will be illustrated with a large number of images, some music and even some physical objects from London’s past.
Texts and useful websites:
Roy Porter, London. A Social History (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1994)
www.history.ac.uk/cmh/lpol (London’s Past Online, Centre for Metropolitan History / Royal Historical Society)
www.museumoflondon.org.uk (Museum of London)
www.bl.uk/londoninmaps (London in Maps, British Library). |
