Elizabeth's London

Like its acclaimed predecessors, RESTORATION LONDON and DR. JOHNSON'S LONDON, this book is the result of the author's passionate interest in the practical details of everyday life - and the conditions in which most people lived - so often ignored in conventional history books.

The book begins with the River Thames, which - from its surly water-men, to its great occasions - played such a central part in the city's life.

It then moves on to the streets, houses and gardens; cooking, housework and shopping; clothes, jewellery and make-up; health and medicine; sex and food; education, etiquette and hobbies; religion, law and crime.

“This riveting account embraces everything from immigration, crime and poor relief, to the invention in 1596 of the water closet. There are fascinating chapters on the naming and shaming of miscreants ... Picard reads with style and grace-- Betty Tadman , SCOTSMAN”

this is a book for ducking and weaving through.... this makes satisfying toilet reading - especially the bits about how private loos in the age of Shakespeare were even nastier than our nastiest public loos today. - THE DAILY TELEGRAPH - Christopher Bray

Liza Picard brilliantly captures the spirit of the age. - EXPRESS

ELIZABETH'S LONDON is satisfyingly rich and substantial. - AROUND THE GLOBE - Daniel Hahn

Liza Picard was born in 1927. She read law at the London School of Economics and qualified as a barrister, but did not practise.

She worked for many years in the office of the Solicitor of the Inland Revenue and lived in Gray's Inn and Hackney, before retiring to live in Oxford.

RESTORATION LONDON, the result of many years' interest and research into London life, was her first book.

Previous titles:

Elizabeth's London (HC May 03);

Dr Johnson's London;

Restoration London

Like its acclaimed predecessors, RESTORATION LONDON and DR. JOHNSON'S LONDON, this book is the result of the author's passionate interest in the practical details of everyday life - and the conditions in which most people lived - so often ignored in conventional history books.The book begins with the River Thames, which - from its surly water-men, to its great occasions - played such a central part in the city's life.It then moves on to the streets, houses and gardens; cooking, housework and shopping; clothes, jewellery and make-up; health and medicine; sex and food; education, etiquette and hobbies; religion, law and crime.

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