City Travel Guides
Home Page > Go back a page
Books : By Permission of Heaven: The True Story of the Great Fire of London
Search Books - select a category
Rating: 
- A thorough and well-written account
Firstly a confession, despite or perhaps because of my occupation as a teacher of History, I read very few History texts. However a favourable review by a colleague led me to Tinniswood's excellent book.
Tinniswood has clearly researched this volume meticulously, drawing on previous histories of the Great Fire and a wealth of primary material. The events of 1666 are carefully placed within the political and social context of the period, in particular the Restoration and reign of Charles II and the wars against the Dutch. The unfolding of the Fire itself is recounted with an eye for fascinating details, such as Samuel Pepys burying his Parmesan cheese as the fire drew near to his home. Again Tinniswood draws expertly upon the contemporary accounts and evidence. Tinniswood also cleverly examines the aftermath of the Fire, in particular the process by which the rebuilding of London was undertaken and the way in which compensation was provided to the many thousands who had lost homes or livelihoods.
Tinniswood's account also touches upon contemporary themes; the treatment of the many migrants living in seventeenth century London during and after the events of 1666, and the desire to blame foreign agents for deliberately starting the fire. These issues are dealt with sensitively and expertly.
I would recommend this volume to anyone interested in this fascinating historical event. Tinniswood has produced an account that is strongly rooted in thorough historical research, whilst maintaining an engaging written style.
Rating: - EXCELLENT
This is the first time I've read anything by the author Adrian Tinniswood and I wasn't disappointed.
I've never read anything about the Great Fire of London before and we didn't cover it in history at school to any great length, all I knew was were it started and what a mess it created.
Adrian has done a lot of research for this historical book and has included a lot of information. He's looked at it for all sides and how it affected not just the Londoners but the rest of the country as well.
The fire happened before the bubonic plague had finished and during the Anglo-Dutch war. There have been conspiracies about whom and why it had been started and this book answers a lot of those questions.
He focuses on the leading personalities like the gallant Duke of York, the hapless Sir Thomas Bludworth, the fussy Samuel Pepys, and the visionary Sir Christopher Wren.
The author also describes the long term consequences of the fire for example the rebuilding of the City, the emergence of fire insurance, and the exodus of noxious trades into the outer reaches of the capital.
This book was really interesting and informative, (it also includes black and white illustrations of how London looked at the time).
Personally I found it a compulsive read, Adrian draws you into all walks of life that were being lead at the time and how everyone coped with it. This is a book I will read again, it was worth the novel and for teenagers and adults alike who want to find out about the great fire of London this is an excellent book and I'd recommend it. :-)
- A thorough and well-written accountFirstly a confession, despite or perhaps because of my occupation as a teacher of History, I read very few History texts. However a favourable review by a colleague led me to Tinniswood's excellent book.
Tinniswood has clearly researched this volume meticulously, drawing on previous histories of the Great Fire and a wealth of primary material. The events of 1666 are carefully placed within the political and social context of the period, in particular the Restoration and reign of Charles II and the wars against the Dutch. The unfolding of the Fire itself is recounted with an eye for fascinating details, such as Samuel Pepys burying his Parmesan cheese as the fire drew near to his home. Again Tinniswood draws expertly upon the contemporary accounts and evidence. Tinniswood also cleverly examines the aftermath of the Fire, in particular the process by which the rebuilding of London was undertaken and the way in which compensation was provided to the many thousands who had lost homes or livelihoods.
Tinniswood's account also touches upon contemporary themes; the treatment of the many migrants living in seventeenth century London during and after the events of 1666, and the desire to blame foreign agents for deliberately starting the fire. These issues are dealt with sensitively and expertly.
I would recommend this volume to anyone interested in this fascinating historical event. Tinniswood has produced an account that is strongly rooted in thorough historical research, whilst maintaining an engaging written style.
Rating:
- EXCELLENTThis is the first time I've read anything by the author Adrian Tinniswood and I wasn't disappointed.
I've never read anything about the Great Fire of London before and we didn't cover it in history at school to any great length, all I knew was were it started and what a mess it created.
Adrian has done a lot of research for this historical book and has included a lot of information. He's looked at it for all sides and how it affected not just the Londoners but the rest of the country as well.
The fire happened before the bubonic plague had finished and during the Anglo-Dutch war. There have been conspiracies about whom and why it had been started and this book answers a lot of those questions.
He focuses on the leading personalities like the gallant Duke of York, the hapless Sir Thomas Bludworth, the fussy Samuel Pepys, and the visionary Sir Christopher Wren.
The author also describes the long term consequences of the fire for example the rebuilding of the City, the emergence of fire insurance, and the exodus of noxious trades into the outer reaches of the capital.
This book was really interesting and informative, (it also includes black and white illustrations of how London looked at the time).
Personally I found it a compulsive read, Adrian draws you into all walks of life that were being lead at the time and how everyone coped with it. This is a book I will read again, it was worth the novel and for teenagers and adults alike who want to find out about the great fire of London this is an excellent book and I'd recommend it. :-)