[.ca] Dr. Johnson's London (ISBN 1842127292)

a treasure trove of facts:
Anyone expecting a good story will be disappointed by this book, because it is not a traditional narrative history. Instead, it's something equally as interesting but in a different way. Picard has dug into diaries, letters, archives, and publications of the day to unearth a treasure of miscellaneous but really very basic information about daily life in Johnson's London: what fine silk cost, what tradesmen were paid, how homes were decorated, and the like. The bare bones of the London economy and the personal economies of the aristocracy, the middle class, and the working poor are laid out here. The information is fascinating, and it is indispensable for anyone who reads and enjoys the literature and history of the period, because it fills in so many gaps. All of those who admire Patrick O'Brien's wonderful grasp of the minutiae of life, as demonstrated so superbly in his Aubrey-Maturin series, will immediately appreciate what a matchless resource this book is. It is not a book to read again and again--it is a book to read once and then refer to, often and with pleasure.

semi-informative and completely annoying:
There is some useful information in this book -- for example, I didn't know that prostitutes in the 18th century actually lined up to attract customers -- but the main failing is the writer's style and tone. Yes, it is good that it is not a scholarly tome and written snootily, but Picard seems to overcompensate. She tries to present herself as "right there," and it is especially annoying when she interpolates herself into direct quotations with her square-bracketed commentaries \omy italics, that sort of thing\c. There is an apparent lack of scholarly rigor, too: the reader gets tired of seeing "apparently" and "supposedly" and "I can imagine" and all that sort of thing. Does she know or not? If she does, tell us unambiguously. If not, then stop speculating.

Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk of 18th Century London:
Author Liza Picard tells us right off that she is a lawyer by profession, not an historian. This opens her up to sniffy comments by academics who think no history can be written unless it done in the dullest way possible. In spite of the fact Ms. Picard did voluminous research and adequately footnoted and indexed her book, she still came in for some sniping. In my mind, it is most unfair for she has produced an entertaining, interesting, breezy account of times during the reign of George III. (1740-1770) Though Ms. Picard is clearly no fan of the revered Dr. Johnson and has a very poor opinion of biographer James Boswell, they do weave in and out of the text. She divides the book into three sections, The Poor, The Middling Sort, and The Rich. She gives us what they wore, ate, with what they entertained themselves, and how they lived with great immediacy. You will wonder how anyone survived to grow up in filthy, smelly, incurious London. Most surprising to me was the Gin Wars and how pervasive this cheap form of alcohol was among the poor. It had a huge effect on a great portion of the populace for an extended period of time. The ladies' three-foot high hairdos forced them to sit on the floor of coaches when traveling to balls. I couldn't help but wonder if they just slid out the door when they reached their destinations. "Dr. Johnson's London" is a lively read with interesting details. Ms. Picard does a good job of getting us into the sensibilities of 18th century London. Recommended.

Never Boring:
This book is for those who want something more than the obvious. Liza Picard's strength is that she does not attempt to be an historian. She states her limitations and then proceeds to examine the things that are of interest to her in the period. I enjoyed the fact that the author is present in the text. It adds to the book and reminds the reader that this is one person's description of the life and times of London mid-1700s. The chapter and section headings are clear and precise allowing the reader to dip into areas of particular interest. Picard brings the period to life with her own style which is rarely boring and never pedantic.

Much material, but undigested:
There is a great deal of material here, but it is organized haphazardly and distributed in bits and pieces. Ms. Picard's knowledge of Johnson (and Boswell) is minimal. She does not appear to respect either and repeats anecdotes and commonplaces of the sort that were common in the Victorian period. The book's facts and details are valuable, but it is more a reference work to be consulted than an organized narrative (or set of narratives) to be enjoyed. Richard Schwartz's DAILY LIFE IN JOHNSON'S LONDON anticipates much of the material here, though Picard covers areas of experience not treated by Schwartz. Schwartz's illustrations are far superior. Copies of Rocque's map (cited by each) may be purchased from the Guildhall Museum in London. It provides a detailed sense of the city's streets and surrounding areas. The Museum of the City of London, a few short blocks away in the Barbican, has booklets that deal with pertinent aspects of 18thc social history, e.g., descriptions of wigs, clothing, etc. with illustrations of existing examples. There you can actually see a sedan chair, irons in which executed felons' bodies were hung, eyebrows made of mouse hair, the door of Newgate Prison, and so on.