London is unique in the number and variety of its lion statues. If you ask Londoners how many such lions they think there are, they usually say, 'There are four in Trafalgar Square' and they pause ...then 'Oh yes, there's also one by Westminster Bridge.' In fact there are many thousands more, from the oldest (on the York Watergate) and snootiest (guarding the Montague Place entrance to the British Museum) to the cheekiest (perched on Britannia's helmet in Gresham Street) and saddest (at Black Lion Lane in Hammersmith). Here with a very British kind of composed eccentricity is an account of some of these lions, dividing them into categories, and listing in an appendix, by London Borough, the roads where over ten thousand lions the author has identified are to be found. This book will prompt readers to keep an eye out for lions in London's streets, and to observe much more closely the details of the capital's wonderfully varied architecture. A lion safari in London can be far the most satisfying sort: in a half-hour's walk you are virtually certain to find many varieties of the species.
And London's lions, far from being disturbed by the attention, are after all intended to meet our gaze.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
A lion-spotting safari sounds like a capital idea. Bookseller Should encourage us not to miss the many little pleasures that London's streets have to offer. London Society Journal It is a real eye opener to become aware of the vast numbers of all things lion in city streets - once you start looking, they pop out on buildings, bridges, pubs and shops. By no way unique to London - yet the capital boasts more than the 10,000 of the title - the author displays her years of obsession in her quest to bag them Good Book Guide
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Maße
Höhe: 100 mm
Breite: 160 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-7112-3279-2 (9780711232792)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
VALERIE COLIN-RUSS was a career civil servant before becoming a London Guide and Chairman of the London Appreciation Society for six years; she is now a Vice-President of the Society. Although she has travelled extensively, London remains her favourite city. She has been described as London's leading lion-hunter and has given many lectures on London's lion statuary. She lives in west London.
Contents Introduction 1. London's Really Big Lions 2. Lions All Round London! 3. London's Oldest and Newest Lions 4. The Lion as Guardian 5. Lions' Heads 6. Lions with Britannia 7. Winged Lions 8. Lions on Plaques and in Relief 9. Lions in Coats of Arms 10. Lions of Many Colours 11. Lions in Odd Places or doing Odd Things Tailpiece Appendix: Location of London's Lions
