Customer Reviews
An Authentic 5-star Original - By: West London Gal, 14 Jan 2008 
Looking for a new book on London - for a friend rather than myself - I happened on this one & was persuaded by the fact that it's got so many five-star ratings. It arrived, & I could see why straightaway. At first it was the pictures which did it for me, classy monochrome shots, all clearly shot for this book. Then I started reading it, however, & was drawnin by the depth of knowledge, the huge scope - it takesin the suburbs as well as the centre - & most of all the author's writing style. Most obviously you really feel like you're there with him, on a privileged walk around the city, plus the buildings really are extraordinary - many I'd never even heard of let alone noticed - & so many of the stories about them are not just fascinating but wittily toldin a way which really brings London alive.. The friend? Well she never got the bookin the end because I kept it.
Coffee table tome meets un-put-downable read - By: Kristin Bonnevie, 29 Sep 2006 If you thought you knew London, think again. David Long's book combines in-depth research, with a talent for quirky anecdote. Such human-interest brings the tasteful black & white photos to life & distinguishes Spectacular Vernacular from other, sometimes fusty, architectural manuals. It's easy to dip into as it deals with one building at a time - text facing photograph - so there's no need to flip back & forth between pages. Once your curiosity is piqued, however, it is hard to put down. Will appeal to Londoners, & visitors alike.
So THAT'S what that building is! - By: D. Franks, 06 Aug 2006 One of THE most imaginative books on the capital, which really does reach the parts other books don't. Ignores the obvious, & goes straight for the stuff you never even knew you wanted to know about. Lovely pics as well
Cabbies - so you think you have the knowledge ??? - By: Stanley J. Marut, 30 Jul 2006 As a London Cabbie I pride myself on the knowledge I have not only of routes through & around London, but also the many interesting & different places hidden away or just not thought about as we pass along the busy thoroughfares of London. I think that the cabbies will like this one.
This is a book about London & its peculiar architecture, which we pass everydayin the cab without so much as a second glance. One hundred buildings are identified as being the strangest & enigmatic. The introduction describes London as lacking an urban masterplan & is shownin contrast to Nazi Berlin, Paris or even Babylon. London's chief glory lies notin the theatrical effect of triumphant avenues aligned along carefully drafted axes, or meticulously planned grid of street & square, but ratherin its many historic & often highly individual buildings.So the introduction goes.
The book is full of excellent black & white photographs, that show the buildingsin a light, which could not be done justicein colour strange as though they might seem. With each photograph most of which are full page, the author gives a brief pen portrait of each location, which includes a history.
The book has ten chapters & each section deals with a specific aspect of architecture. For example,in the first chapter entitled "Tudor Manor Born" the author introduces Abbot's House, Deans Yard, Westminster moving on to Albany & Piccadilly. Crosby Hall features & once we have read through the text we discover that Crosby Hall was moved brick by brick from the City to its current sitein Chelseain 1908. You will pass it on Cheyne Walk just after Danvers Street. There always seems to be something going on there & it looks as though the builders will be there for a while longer.
Not only does the book describe & illustrate interesting buildings within central London, the author also brings to our attention many other buildings which we might only know about if we livedin a particular locality. For example Severndroog Castle? Who? you might say. This is locatedin Castlewood Park, SE18. Many of us cabbies who did the knowledge will probably have seen the tower at Clock Tower Place N7. The story associated with this tower is that after several hundred years of cattle slaughterin the city it was decided to transfer the trading of livestock to Islington. The story goes that this market attracted the ne'er do wells & there was a large illegitimate trade attached to the market with thieves running alive. After the war it was knocked down for development & the more legitimate traders moved to Bermondsey. Hence the New Caledonian Market, which still exists todayin Bermondsey Street by Long Lane.
There are many other illustrations & descriptions & the book would be an interesting addition to the bookshelves of those cab drivers who are interestedin the aspects of London presented here. Most enjoyable & worth the purchase.
The Underbelly - By: Alexander JW Hill, 17 Jul 2006 An honest & real guide to the buildings that makes London what it is & isn't. It's also a partial explanation for why the English are who they are. Long's bookin main avoids the standard tourist & more recognisable buildings but instead studies the buildings that really are unique & different. In short the 'extraordinary' buildings.
The interesting thing is that so many of the buildingsin this book are those that you might have walked past once or twice or more & not realised just how unique or important they are.
If you want a tour of what London is really about architecturally & do it from your couch then this is a wonderful place to start. Or get off the couch & take it with you.
A fascinating insight.
