London Fog: The Biography

This is a fast-paced well researched and referenced scholarly book about the history of London fog, its causes, presence in literature and art, and the torturous eventual recognition of the responsibility to combat it. One is given some understanding of how awful it would have been to live in the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th in London on foggy days. If you have been a tourist in London for a even a short time, you will be familiar with many of the places mentioned. The reproductions of many works of art and a number of old photographs are especially useful. I was amused to realize that the color of the jacket and end papers of the book are yellow not by happenstance. In the literature section of the book, there are many references to the roles of London fog in the works of Charles Dickens, and as a result I am now enjoying reading his Bleak House.

This is a highly readable and incredibly detailed study of one of modern history's most pervasive and preventable health disasters. It presents a fascinating view of what the "fogs" were, how they came to be, what they did and how they impacted on life in many ways. The book is a fine example of how to examine a huge public health issue in a accessible manner.

Well researched but too much detail - became a challenge to finish it. Why on earth the author gave a complete synopsis of every book she cited (and there were many) that mentioned London fog is beyond me. Certainly a comprehensive study of the subject.

As an American who lived in London and still considers it a home away from home, I was looking forward to receiving this book. I began reading Christine Corton's pages as soon the package arrived and immediately I was engrossed. Who would have thought that London fog could be the basis for a thrilling journey through history, literature, art, politics, and science? "London Fog: The Biography" is a panoramic cultural history, comprehensively researched and refreshingly free of the trappings of academic writing. The prose here is lucid and delightful. True to biography, Corton's masterwork begins with the birth of London Fog and ends with (spoiler alert!) "The Last Gasp" and its welcomed demise. The story of London town's famous and famously misunderstood fog is more than a fascinating narrative of one of civilization's great urban legends; it is also an alarming cautionary tale. The skies above Beijing, Mexico City, Cairo, New Delhi, and so many other metropolises are obfuscated by thick brown smog, and the troubling question remains: will the air in those cities ever recover, and if not, what is the fate of their citizens? A brilliant book indeed.

I am a bit disappointed with British historian Christine Corton's "London Fog: The Biography". A thick and well-researched book, it was much less non-fiction - which is what I had hoped for - and much more discussion on how the famous "pea soup" fogs were portrayed in literature, film, and art. She writes how authors as diverse as Dickens and Mark Twain made the fog - thick, yellowy, and often poisonous - parts of their novels. And she shows some of the beautiful artwork derived from the fogs. But very little on the history of the fog and it's affect on the populous.I suppose if you're looking for a book on the London Fogs and how they were expressed in the arts, this is the book for you. For others looking for straight social history, you'll be disappointed.

This isn't a novel, so it's difficult to describe using the "plot" words. If you're a fan of British TV shows and books, this will give you additional insight to what London life was really about. I especially liked the chapter on Dickens.

This is a wonderful detailed study of one part of history from a multi-disciplinary viewpoint. Art, science, crime, social attitude, literature and politics all weave together in old London.

More like a thesis

Earlier reviewers have alluded this; the book is an extensive review of the arts and literature on and around London Fog. This wrong-footed me for a while, but had this fact been highlighted in the blurb, I do not see why it should be a minus factor. Indeed, I ended up ordering some of the obscure books the author had quoted cited.I could not help remembering my final dissertation for my degree, where you had to make sure you put in enough 'quotes'. Indeed, it does read like one at times.I also think the book is more than just an anthology. It is written in a lively style and through the fog, you get vivid glimpses of the characters who lived in it.

GOOD PRODUCT AND DELIVERY ON TIME

Great book I worked in the fog in the early 50s

Excellent

"London Fog: The Biography" covers everything you need to know about London's "pea-soupers" (or the "London Particular"). Christine Corton's magnus opus covers all aspects of this urban phenomenon that plagued the capital in Victorian times and the first half of the twentieth century, and inspired Hollywood to depict London as forever fogbound. In the murk, views of the city were obscured, petty crime flourished, pedestrians were knocked over by horse carriages, and writers such as Charles Dickens and Robert Louis Stevenson were inspired to write some of their most eloquent prose. Politicians prevaricated, unable to decide whether the culprit was industrial works or domestic fires - to curtail emissions from either source would bound to attract criticism.At times this book is a little heavy going, but if you persevere you are sure to find something of interest. Recommended.