I'm an English major and a frequent visitor to London who loves taking long walks around the city, so Stephen Browning's "Walking Literary London" seemed a perfect book for me. And although I haven't had a chance to try any of these walks out yet, even just paging through this book (and particularly through the walks involving Virginia Woolf , John Keats and Charles Dickens) has been a fun source of armchair travel and an enjoyable way to plan for my next visit.. I can anticipate that the format of this book might make it a bit challenging to follow while on an actual walk, but I'm sure that the rewards of encountering landmarks from the lives of so many writers while following these purpose-planned walking itineraries will be well worth the effort. Readers who enjoy this book might also want to check out Roger Ebert's "The Perfect London Walk," which guides walkers on a route through north London that takes in John Keats's house and Karl Marx's grave on the way to its Hampstead Heath finale. It was a go-to walk for my husband and me and so many of our guests when we were living in London in the 1980s and 90s and is the gold standard to which I will hold "Walking Literary London."

Thank you to NetGalley and to Pen and Sword Publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

This is a great idea for a book and there is certainly a lot of information but it hasn't been laid out at all well and it feels like there has been little thought given to how the book is going to be used. If it is mostly meant as a book about London's literary figures then it ought to have more order to it as it's got a bit here and a bit there with no coherent structure. However I think the whole purpose of the book is to use it as a guided walk with additional information, so the walk itself needs much more prominence, with the parts about the relevant authors perhaps coming in at the parts in the walk where they will be mentioned. As it is I don't feel I would be confident following a walk in this book without getting lost and frustrated.

I visit London often but there are times when I have been reading - Dickens and I think I would like to walk around there so now is my chance - and this guide sets out quite long walks but as it is London you can lunch stop off somewhere then continue.

The authors are varied and I was impressed the author has included authors like Zadie Smith along with Dickens, Conan Doyle and Virginnia Woolf to name a few and something for all readers.

A good find and recommended

This book is a book lovers dream. It was such a fun and interesting read and I have already visited some of the places and I cannot wait to visit some more.
I would highly recommend

Well, this was a book by somebody who knows how to pack the information in. I am not sure it was laid out by someone knowing the best way to visually present it all.

We get nine walking tours, whose directions and vivid maps guide us on pleasant, day-tripper ambles – there is little in the way of plodding marches, at least until the later pages, although chapters ten and eleven are more like meandering, stretched-out catching-up exercises. The first takes us on a loop from Baker Street (ideally the tube platforms, of course) up past Regent's Park Zoo and back down to Leicester Square, but the pluses and minuses of the book are evident. I love the author's style for getting information across, succinctly name-dropping like a good'un, and telling us all we need to know – this man has mapped out the Blue Plaques and no mistake. But I felt a lot of learning was on this occasion a dangerous thing (Pope in at least two of these walks).

The main issue boils down to the fact the book cannot find its way to differentiate talking about the walk and the literature, and the layout of Walk One is a case in point. We start as you might expect, a mix of talk of the walk and talk of the writers, then, when we encounter plaques to Wells and Bennett on the same wall, a page each for those. But for those thinking we're done with Doyle, up he crops again. And then we get a paragraph about Kipling – only because he was one of fifty authors Doyle liked. And eventually we flow into the walk, with details about the ACD Museum, and more. But that flow is an awkward leak at times – if we don't need the page on Byron, say, we miss the way the text drops into hanging a left at Oxford Circus.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm no expert on such things, and I have been examining a book about a literary hike across West Sussex and it too gets it wrong and muddled about what is background info and what needs to be in our face, else we've taken a wrong turn. It's also awkward to differentiate the two purposes of the book at times, too, with Barrett Browning being discussed while we're en route to her wedding church. But I do think somehow a different font or insetting could be used to alert us to being guided around literature or around London.

But beyond the need to edit on the hoof, this is quite the marvel. Each walk's chapter gives us a heads-up on who we'll meet, the distance, duration, and terrain. The photos are spot-on. The walks might not be circular loops (although the jam-packed third one is), but don't leave us in the middle of nowhere. All the canon is here, plus much that is new and popular.

All this means that despite the utterly pointless mention of Alice Oseman, Walk 9 starting in the fold between the map's pages, and all those layout issues, this is still well worth a commendation. It breaks the city down into handy chunks, delivers everything with authority, and makes me want to get one of the last paper travelcards and check London out afresh. And save the literary context for the train back home.

What a wonderful guide to my favourite city! I recently spent the day in London and took this book with me. How it transformed 2 of my routes whilst reading and seeing where famous authors have lived or where they have written or even eaten! A great guide that I will use over and over again

Princess Fuzzypants here: London is a fascinating city and one of the best ways to see it is to walk it. This guide sets out lots of fairly long walks that the reader could take. I mention the length because even where there are not set places to take a rest, in most of the walks there will be pubs or coffee shops where you can stop. In fact, several of the walks can be split into two separate journeys.

It is a comprehensive book with authors of antiquity as well as some of the most modern ones. Needless to say, it does not cover all authors but it does a pretty good job with enough variety to please all sorts of readers. The blue plaques are often an indication that someone famous lived or worked in a location and the book uses them to help the walker find the locations of interest,

The author often suggests downloading a map from online or buying a mini London A-Z. Those A-Zs are great fun after the return home as it allows the reader to review the steps that they have taken. And make sure, if you do one of the walks with museums along the route that you save enough time to visit them. There are some wonderful ones that should not be missed. Four purrs and two paws up.

Whether visiting London broadly or especially interested in exploring its literary heritage, Stephen Browning's Walking Literary London is a must-have companion. This guide chronicles London's literary landscape past and present through maps, photos, and a plethora of cultivated history by Browning, a resident bibliophile whose love of local history fills these walks. With one foot in London's reality and the other in the worlds constructed by writers across the world, one can explore the nonfiction and fictional facets of literary London at once. Whether you love Paddington or Winnie the Pooh, Dickens or Bernardine Evaristo, there is a walk in here for you.

Rather than simply offering a blueprint of where to walk and what to see, Browning's knowledge of the history of London's literary world, both reality and fictional worlds situated in the city, allow you to explore the city narratively. I especially love the variety of structure in his guide. On the extremely guided end, there are walks created to maximize literary intersection with descriptive maps. However, the tail end of the guide includes overviews of general neighborhoods and their complete offerings to allow you to build-your-own-adventure if you so choose. His constant references to other walks helps link similar thoughts and interests, allowing you to construct your own story of beloved figures and their whereabouts.

As a theatre lover myself, I was especially drawn to the inclusion of the overlap between the literary and theatrical worlds. Shakespeare is of course a feature, but I also loved the inclusion of lesser-known playwrights like Joanna Baillie and Joan Littlewood, where the symbiosis between the page and the stage is on display.

Admittedly, this guide is more fruitful for fellow wordsmiths and avid readers, as it is in-depth and relies heavily on an appreciation for books. However, I think its informative nature allows for it to be a wonderful travel-and-learn for anyone willing to engage with its language!

Thank you to NetGalley, Brown & Sword, and Browning for the look at Literary London! I hope to bring a copy on my next trip.

I loved this book - it was so much fun to explore London with. The book was very logical and well though out. A true gem.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Great cover on this book.

Walking Literary London by Stephen Browning is a must-read for any bibliophile or anyone planning to visit London. The book presents London's unique literary heritage through the works of famous authors like Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Dickens, to name just a few. The author takes the reader on a series of original and informative walks that are the result of 20 years' exploration of this wonderful city.

The book also includes detailed maps and over 80 original photographs taken by the author. Each walk is set up very well with information about its length, conditions and a list of people and characters connected to it. This makes it easy for the reader to choose their preferred route based on their ability and interests.

What I love most about this book is how it immerses you in London's vibrant literary scene. Whether you're walking through bustling streets or exploring quiet neighborhoods, you'll learn fascinating stories about places that have inspired many great works of literature.

Overall, Walking Literary London is an informative and useful guide that will make your trip to London extraordinary. It's perfect for anyone who loves literature, history or simply exploring new cities. With its beautiful photos and fun writing style, this book is sure to be a hit among readers of all ages!

**ARC Via NetGalley**

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

I'm always curious to see what authors/books a travel/guidebook writer selects for inclusion, and this one is quite comprehensive! Not all of those selected are my cup of tea, but unless I write my own, that will always be the case, right? ;) There are as many opinions as there are individuals, and that's just fine. I was pleasantly surprised with how many I _would_ select were included, and that was great.

The author did a great job at connecting the dots, noting where overlaps between walks occur or where to to look for more on XYZ author/book/topic/character.

I do wish my eARC had color pictures rather than black-and-white, but am very happy there were any--I've had some NetGalley travel/guidebooks that had no pictures at all, so this was definitely a step up! :) And it makes me want to see whether color made it into the published version as well.

Definitely an approachable book, and comprehensive in the areas it covers (even if it might not hit everything, it does very well at what _is_ included).

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

This is such a fun and informative book -- the author does a fantastic job giving details and photos of walks around London's different neighborhoods. I am definitely going to bring this book with me on my next trip to London and even enjoyed reading it without being there! There are lots of great stories about the authors and for each walk he describes the length and difficulty. Until I can travel to London, this book has also helped me identify authors I want to read before my trip. I very much enjoyed this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pen & Sword for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

Do you want to walk in the footsteps of Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle and Virginia Woolf? Now you can! This excellent book provides lots of anecdotes about famous London authors, as well as details about several walks, accompanied by photographs. The length and difficulty of each walk is described, as well as ‘watering places’ along the way.

This is a great guide for any book-lover to take on a trip to London. I am especially keen on testing the walks in Bloomsbury.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A very enjoyable book of literary-focused walks in London. I enjoyed the anecdotes about the various authors and writers covered on the walks, and also really liked that fictional characters are included. As well as a walking guide, it contains interesting information about London's literary history. I like that maps and photographs are included for each walk too.

This book is exactly as described. Included are 11 London walks that offer pedestrians glimpses of this most literary of cities. Each walk highlights both fictional and actual figures. For example, walk 5 includes Pall Mall, Picadilly and Mayfair. A few of the streets in this walk include St. James Street, Berkeley Street and Bruton Street, among others. Mention is made of those who belonged to the Reform Club including Anthony Trollope, Arnold Bennet, Conan Doyle, Thackeray and others; that is just one of many neighborhood stops.

There are photographs and maps for each walk. I also really liked that walking conditions are noted.

Both real and virtual travelers will be impressed by the rich history that is revealed in these pages.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for this title. All opinions are my own.

This is my second book this month that discusses literature in a particular city. The first one was New Orleans. This one was equally engaging and interesting to read about. Any bibliofile will want to read this while planning a trip to London.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley.

I owe Stephen Browning an apology. I was a little unsure about this book because it kept giving mostly male author, white male author, places in terms of the moderns, but then about a quarter of a way in, other people come in. He includes not only Zadie Smith and Monica Ali, but also Phyliss Wheatley. He includes LGBTQIA members of the literary community. It is actually quite a good representation of authors in these literary walks. He even includes famous actors who were connected with adaptations of written works. Furthermore, he includes songwriters and singers. A nice touch.
I can’t speak to the accuracy of the walk’s description as I haven’t been to London in many ways, but considering a map, the descriptions seem pretty accurate and on point. Each section is set up very well - the length of the walk is mentioned, the walking conditions in terms of hills and such, and finally a list of people and characters that are connected to the walk. My only complaint about that is the list should have been in alphabetical order to make for easier reference. It seemed to be in the order encountered along the walk.

An absolutely wonderful guide to all things Literary in London set up as walking trips ranging from a few hours to a full day, visiting areas where authors have walked, lived, eaten, etc. If I am ever lucky enough to travel to London I will definitely have this book with me!

Walking in Literary London by Stephen Browning is a well written and researched book.

I enjoyed reading this book and it would be good to follow the walks to see the various places which he talks about in the book. I did feel a bit overwhelmed at the start of each walk when he listed the lives and characters you would come across in it.

I liked seeing the maps which were clear and easy to follow as well as his instructions for seeing all the sights. The author has obviously spent a great deal of time researching each of the 11 walks and there is a great deal of information about each in the book.

Thanks to Net galley and Pen and Sword for the ARC Copy. My review is my own opinion.

Wonderful, informative, and fascinating book about walks to take following routes related to literature. I can’t wait to get to do some of these some day.