Peter Ackroyd does it again. He never misses! I downloaded this book onto a large screen ereader so I could see all the details. The book is amazing. There is SO much to learn from this highly informative book. It's not even just modern London; there's plenty about the history. This is such a unique way to present the information as well. I love the variety of elements described. The pictures are engaging and high quality. I think this is one of those books that I'd gladly purchase.

I really enjoyed this book. Each chapter was a different colour and we went through various elements of London linked to that colour. For red - buses, gold - the coronation carriage. For each London characteristic mentioned there was a short history with relevant photos.

This would be a fab coffee table book if you have an interest in London.

This book helped me get a good idea of what London looked like from the Victorian era through the mid-1900s with its numerous old black and white photographs that have been colorized, other art and detailed historical accounts. Never having been to London, this is someplace I've always wanted to visit. Many of my ancestors lived in this area and I couldn't help but wonder if any of them are in one of the photos in this book.

Overall, Colors of London is an interesting book that I enjoyed looking through.

Note: Having had some quality issues specific to the ebook, it would be a much better experience to read a physical copy of this book.

I’ve always been enamored with London. I learned so much I had never heard before with this book! Great for history and travel lovers alike.

I am grateful to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Pater Ackroyd’s latest book is about London, comprising some 250 pages of text and images. The images are a mix of photographs, paintings, posters and other graphics from the mid 19th Century to the late 20th Century. The text is generally related to and indeed sometimes inspired by the images. In a nice touch the Author discusses changes to London over the years since the historical events discussed, right up until the present day.

The book is divided into chapters, many with titles related to colour. Green, Blue, Red, Gold and so on. Other titles are more indirectly related, for example Light, Fire, Night.

The text is related to the images, which cover a selection of London’s history including culture, politics, architecture, sport, commerce and in general London as a city, over a period of some 150 years. Each chapter uses the title and a few images as a starting point for the Author’s observations, interpretations and story-telling, on a related or somewhat colour-inspired topic. In addition to the Author’s writing, he also provides contemporaneous thoughts and descriptions. These are often from newspapers, books, artists, politicians, royalty and other public figures. For example, we get to read extracts from Queen Victoria’s diary. Given her long reign, QV and her legacy crops up in several chapters. While the topics and events are generally well known, the Author somehow manages to add even more richness and depth from his interpretations, observations and opinions. And of course the images greatly assist in conveying his thoughts. His insights, knowledge and views of London’s place in the world are another aspect that makes this book such a fascinating read.

The graphics greatly complement the text, in particular ‘colourised’ photographs, which form a major part of the book. The Author also includes a note on the technique of colourised photography; a detailed and time consuming process which provides an interpretation of what a colour image may have resembled. The results are convincing and sit nicely besides the Author’s descriptions and storytelling.

Also of great interest are the paintings of London by well-known artists, such as Monet, Turner and Whistler. Their work and thoughts recurs throughout the book.
As well as lengthy discussions on one or two major topics in each chapter (for example, the Great Exhibition, the Olympics, both World Wars, the Swinging Sixties), the Author takes us on many smaller detours to discuss other important and interesting events albeit smaller in an historical sense. Some have a tenuous relationship to the chapter colour or description, nevertheless, the events, stories and images in each chapter seem to sit naturally alongside each other.

The book does not intend to be a fully integrated or comprehensive story of London. The Author has covered this in his previous writings. What we are presented with in this book are somewhat related chapters, each telling a couple of London stories, with illustrations, loosely related to colour or some other aspect of visual imagery. I find the book a success, capturing all the major events and issues since the mid 19th century, showing these event in colour images, providing context & meaning and mentioning changes over the years. I think anyone who has an interest in the history of London and indeed the London of today, will enjoy this book. For those fortunate enough to live in or visit London, I think the sights, sounds and views will be more meaningful, rewarding and interesting having read this book.

I wish the author and publishers all the very best with this book.

really well researched book with many illustrations. Painting and photography featured and would look good in any actual book, I read the kindle version. The chapters are all divided into colours with some amazing scenery shots all set in London both day & night. I especially loved the 60/70's images which brought back memories of the time. Thank you #NetGalley for the e-book to review.

Essentially a collection of paintings, colourised old photographs, advertising posters (mostly for transport like the underground) and postcards interspersed with Ackroyd’s text. It’s divided into colours (red, blue, black etc) and also light, fire, night and the full spectrum. He quotes authors, poets, artists as well as delving into some history. Really for me it was the art and the photographs (mostly street scenes) that made it a pleasure to read. Favourite paintings Monet’s ‘Houses of Parliament’ 1904, Turner’s ‘The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons’ 1834 and ‘The Nerves of the World’ c.1930 by C.R.w.Nevinson. A photograph of StPauls cathedral in 1940 during a bombardment by German planes is made incredibly dramatic after colourisation. There also interesting bits of history and things I didn’t know, like the familiar facade of Buckingham Palace was only added in 1913. There’s a great photo of the palace showing the previous facade and before the Queen Victoria memorial was built. While there is some focus on royalty (particularly in the gold section!) there’s also lots about ordinary people and the poorer areas of the city.

I enjoy photography and also reading about travel. The concept of book to describe London is interesting and as someone who has not seen much of London, it paints the city in a very different light. The photos are fantastic. However, sometimes the quality of pictures looked blurry. It may be because of the format or my device.

Absolutely gorgeous!
This would make a really great gift for somebody who appreciates photography or are fond on London itself!

A fascinating and eclectic history of London told through colorized photographs, maps, and other historical documents/images organized by a broad theme of color. It was very interesting reading about mostly 20th century history and covered a wide variety of topics, from politics to fashion. The colorized pictures were really neat to see and made for an impactful glimpse into history. This would be a great pick for anyone interested in photography, the modern era, or the timeless city of London.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Full of striking photos and artwork, these pages of history truly show the colors of London throughout the years. And it’s an utterly gorgeous book.

Very visually pleasing, and well laid out, the accompanying talks about color and light and the history snippets really turn this into a highly enjoyable coffee table book, one as enjoyable to read through as to look at.

Absolutely stunning. This dark, hauntingly vintage cover makes me think of bygone eras mixed with Harry Potter’s night bus. A stunning work by Peter Ackroyd that brings to life the city of London, its beauty, its architecture, its various shades and settings, its history, identity, and culture, all in one. Divided into chapters such was Light, Fire, White, Gold, Blue, Green, Red, Brown, Gray, Black, The Night, and Full Spectrum, this one has it all, ranging from the light of Monet’s Charing-Cross Bridge painting, to the fiery images of St. Paul’s Cathedral during German bombings, to the golds of coronations, to the blues of children playing in the Thames, to the reds of stunning wool coats draped over the shoulders of London’s elites in the early to mid twentieth century, to the browns of the Oxford Arms on Warwick Lane and trench coat clad men and women, this one has it all. Absolute incredible combination of paintings, advertisements, relics, and photographs.

I don't think there'll ever be a coffee-table book on London I don't like. :D It's really true--I love just about all the ones I've read to date, and this is no exception!

It brilliantly combines all my favorite things into one resource, including art, history, paraphernalia (Antique postcards! Historic Olympics posters/ads!), literature, and more. This is exactly why I loved my European Studies degree program in college--it didn't lean too heavily on any one thing, instead dabbling just enough across a variety of topics to hold my interest.

And coming at the topic from the examination of color--genius. I'm reminded of a favorite quote from a favorite movie, _The Lake House_: "...the light in Barcelona is quite different from the light in Tokyo. And, the light in Tokyo is different from that in Prague. A truly great structure, one that is meant to stand the tests of time never disregards its environment. A serious architect takes that into account. He knows that if he wants presence, he must consult with nature. He must be captivated by the light. Always the light. Always." Ackroyd does a brilliant job at this himself in _Colors of London: A History_. It makes my heart happy (and also makes me want to buy a plane ticket).

Of course, not everything about London is sunshine and daises, fun and games. We do see the challenges and hardships represented here, just as much as the city's glories--as we should. (And oh, reading about Queen Elizabeth's coronation just weeks after her passing... #feels) Even the weather comes up; inevitable, just like one cannot talk about the Pacific Northwest without talking about rain--or mist (ask me how I know :D). And yet, I felt at home in that section--not just because it was covered under my favorite color, blue, but because the PNW and England share many a common weather; the two are not so different there.

Thoughtful, engaging, informative, well-organized and -presented--this read would be at home on any traveler (armchair or in-person), photographer, or historian's bookcase.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A whimsical look into the color palates of London through the eras- either through artistic form or from photography. Paints a vivid portrait of history.

Because I have a kindle I cannot assess this book. Thank you for the chance. I wish I hadn't a different Computer.

Colors of London is an amazing collection of images ranging from photography and artwork by Monet and Turner, mixed in with historical detail, poetry and literature from Wordsworth to Arthur Conan Doyle. Peter Ackroyd has put a lot of research into breaking down the Capital into its own sections of colours across Light, Fire, White, God, Blue, Green, Red, Brown, Gray, Black, The Night, and The Full Spectrum.

As someone who has grown up in London, it was great to look through the pages and see how the city has changed over time, and how some elements still very much remain.

I would highly recommend picking up a physical copy, making for a great coffee table book to return to time and time again, looking over the images.

I have read Ackroyd’s takes on both The Canterbury Tales and King Arthur so was intrigued to see what he would have to say about London. As it turns out, not surprisingly, Ackroyd has a good deal to say. Within these pages are history and nostalgia, along with photos and other visuals that cove many years. The whole is organized by color palettes; these include Light, Fire, White, God, Blue, Green, Red, Brown, Gray, Black, The Night, and finally, The Full Spectrum.

Ackroyd notes that London is a city of light and shade, perhaps not so vibrant as Paris or New York…and yet, what a place it is. It is surely a city with a palette. Enjoy looking at the many photos or read along too and learn a lot about this renowned British metropolis. I especially enjoyed the period posters that were in many sections.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

This is a fascinating read, enabling the reader to look at London through a completely different lens.

The illustrations/photographs are superb, looking at London through the decades. My particular favourite was a colourised picture of the Great Exhibitiion, of which I have read a great deal about but which I have never been able to visualise in such a way before.

Thank you to Peter Ackroyd, Frances Lincoln and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Colours of London was an interesting collection of photographs and art woven with history. It leads the reader on a journey through time, viewing London through different periods.

As an anglophile, I devoured this book, it really is so visually pleasing. Anyone captivated by London or anyone wishing to visit London, should take a look at this book.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Colors of London is a fascinating collection of images (art and photographs) interlaced with segments of the city's history that allows the reader to travel in time and view London through different lenses. Ackroyd's portrait of London is honest, centered on the humans who coloured the city, and very alive.

I have a particular appreciation for the section on Fire, how vivid a picture Ackroyd created with their selection of texts and images.


Thank you NetGalley and White Lion Publishing for this ARC. I would recommend getting a physical copy of this book as the pictures often spread upon two pages, but my reader app allowed me to display it as such.