The Strand - A Biography

The first history of one of London's most extraordinary streets.

Running along the Thames's northern shore and spanning three-quarters of a mile from Trafalgar Square to Temple Bar, the Strand has been a witness to London's growth and change from the earliest years of the city's existence.

In The Strand: A biography, Geoff Browell and Eileen Chanin uncover the deep history of this remarkable street. Tracing its origins in the Roman era, they reveal how it grew in importance as authority shifted from church to aristocracy, then to commerce, media and law. Over time, everything that mattered converged on the Strand: tradition and ceremony clashed with rebellion and destitution. By 1910, the street was known as the 'centre of the world'.

Drawing on remarkable archival discoveries, Browell and Chanin present the most complete and compelling history of the Strand ever written. Filled with surprising, untold stories, The Strand: A biography is a must-read for lovers of one of the world's greatest cities.

About the author

Geoff Browell is a senior archivist at King's College London. He is also chair of AIM25, a charitable consortium of the archives of 150 cultural organisations in London. He leads historical tours of King's and is the editor of Strandlines, a digital community dedicated to exploring lives on the Strand.

Eileen Chanin is a Sydney-based historian and a Research Associate of the Australian National University. She is the author of nine books, including Capital Designs: Australia House and Visions of an Imperial London (2020). Her interest in the Strand and its many facets deepened as a Visiting Fellow of King's College London.

Product details

• Authors: Geoff Browell, Geoff Chanin Browell, Eileen Chanin, Chanin Eileen
• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 25.02.2025
• EAN: 9781526179111
• ISBN: 978-1-5261-7911-1
• No. of pages: 272
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Architecture; London, Greater London, Architecture, Central London, HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / Georgian Era (1714-1837), HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / 20th Century, HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / 21st Century, HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / Stuart Era (1603-1714), HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / Victorian Era (1837-1901), 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, 21st century, c 2000 to c 2100, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, British & Irish history, Local History, 17th century, c 1600 to c 1699, Social and cultural history, History of Architecture