City of Gold and Mud - Painting Victorian London (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art)

So much has been told about the Victorian age. But here, it can be seen, painted by various artists of that time, each of them with different views and ideas about how they wanted to present the world they were living in. From the grand style, all the way down to the outcasts of society. The viewer encounters everything here, luxury and power, despair and poverty, all of them existing right next to each other. I took great delight in this book and it has opened a new insight for me into probably Britain's most famous age.

Most arduous and long winded book ever. The author will use 50 words when 1 or 2 would suffice - don't waste your time. The author goes off on tangents that are totally unrelated and are of little or no significance whatsoever about the subject. There are many more interesting, enjoyable and relevant books available.

The reviewer who gave this one star on the grounds of obscure language etc. may have come adrift in the opening chapter which is, as is usual with art historical studies, very theoretical. Believe me, there are others much more obscure. In fact, this is a very detailed, informative and extremely well illustrated account and analysis of many paintings of Victorian/Edwardian London, arranged thematically. It had a very good review from Tim Barringer, an expert in the period. There is wonderfully detailed research here on the historical context of these paintings, with ample reference to related texts and cartoons/prints/other paintings. I liked it so much that, having read a library copy, I bought it. ( I don't agree with all of what the author suggests, but one doesn't expect that in a study of this type.) Anyone wanting to use visual sources as materials for teaching would find this very useful.

Excellent, scholarly and very well illustrated, illuminating the multi-faceted culture of London in Victorian London. Bit expensive, waiting for paperback.