This is abook I have known almost as I long as I can read. How strange its influence on my image of London, a city I have never visited, nor probably ever shall. SAnd all the strange -- and often grizzly anecdotes -- adduced here pouring into the head of a youngster with little knowledge or history, and none of the mighty tradition of English literature. To some extent, I suppose that is irrelevant,as I don't need to have been there to know that London has changed immensely in the decades since this book. A good read, but more, another banquet of painting from the gifted water-colourist Haslehust. ( )