woolfardis's review
3.0
Dodger's Guide to London comes as a companion to the novel Dodger and provides us with a casual look at what life was like for the lower classes of Victorian London.
It's a good place to start if you're looking to start researching Victorian London, as it has some very good references and recommendations for further reading. Paul Kidby provides the wonderful illustrations that always accompanies Terry Pratchett's work, as well as some real-life photographs that do not disappoint in bringing the era close to hand.
It does not contain much humour, though I would suggest this was a child-orientated book, and as such it can get a little boring. In-and-out reading would be best, and definitely it is a referenceesque book as opposed to any other kind. Be wary of the fictional elements that Pratchett provides, as these are not factual and may trip you up. Altogether an interesting read.
It's a good place to start if you're looking to start researching Victorian London, as it has some very good references and recommendations for further reading. Paul Kidby provides the wonderful illustrations that always accompanies Terry Pratchett's work, as well as some real-life photographs that do not disappoint in bringing the era close to hand.
It does not contain much humour, though I would suggest this was a child-orientated book, and as such it can get a little boring. In-and-out reading would be best, and definitely it is a referenceesque book as opposed to any other kind. Be wary of the fictional elements that Pratchett provides, as these are not factual and may trip you up. Altogether an interesting read.
markyon's review
3.0
This slim little volume is a companion book to Sir Terry’s non-Discworld novel published last year, Dodger.
The original story is a Dickensian style tale of one Jack Dodger, who in the novel is an ‘Artful Dodger’ type character running around the rather mucky streets of Victorian London.
It’s a fine old tale, involving characters based on people such as England’s Prime Minister at the time, Benjamin Disraeli, originator of the English police force Sir Robert Peel, a journalst named Charlie Dickens, Sweeney Todd, the fictional butcher of Fleet Street and even Queen Victoria herself.
There’s clearly a mine of material to work with there, and as you would expect, Sir Terry has done his research to write the novel. (There’s a long list of websites on the last page of Dodger’s Guide for further research, should the reader be so inclined.) Dodger’s Guide for London is obviously based on this research, and is presented as a collection of various details as a means of showing the perhaps uninformed reader what Victorian London was like.
It’s a book that can perhaps be regarded as a Schott’s Miscellany for Victorian London, or for those with younger people in their household, a Horrible Histories type romp through Victoriana. Most of the details inside are factual, though there are, peppered throughout, quotes and comments from the fictional Jack Dodger himself. As expected, there are lots of real details here that will surprise and perhaps revolt the reader. It’s a book designed to be dipped into.
It is profusely illustrated throughout, with almost every page having a picture of some sort, and many more than one. Most of the drawings in black and white pencil throughout are drawn by long-time Pratchett collaborator Paul Kidby, although there are also 135 illustrations and photographs from the time, of places, magazines and key events.
You don’t need to have read Dodger to get a lot from this book, although the comments from Dodger throughout may make more sense if you have.
Dodger’s Guide to London is clearly one for the young enquiring mind, who wishes to know more about the real Victorian London, as well as a little of Pratchett’s fictional one. In summary, it is a good way to pass a couple of hours, after which the reader is almost guaranteed to come away with something they didn’t know before.
And coincidentally available just in time to accompany the paperback copy of Dodger for that most Victorian of celebrations, Christmas….
The original story is a Dickensian style tale of one Jack Dodger, who in the novel is an ‘Artful Dodger’ type character running around the rather mucky streets of Victorian London.
It’s a fine old tale, involving characters based on people such as England’s Prime Minister at the time, Benjamin Disraeli, originator of the English police force Sir Robert Peel, a journalst named Charlie Dickens, Sweeney Todd, the fictional butcher of Fleet Street and even Queen Victoria herself.
There’s clearly a mine of material to work with there, and as you would expect, Sir Terry has done his research to write the novel. (There’s a long list of websites on the last page of Dodger’s Guide for further research, should the reader be so inclined.) Dodger’s Guide for London is obviously based on this research, and is presented as a collection of various details as a means of showing the perhaps uninformed reader what Victorian London was like.
It’s a book that can perhaps be regarded as a Schott’s Miscellany for Victorian London, or for those with younger people in their household, a Horrible Histories type romp through Victoriana. Most of the details inside are factual, though there are, peppered throughout, quotes and comments from the fictional Jack Dodger himself. As expected, there are lots of real details here that will surprise and perhaps revolt the reader. It’s a book designed to be dipped into.
It is profusely illustrated throughout, with almost every page having a picture of some sort, and many more than one. Most of the drawings in black and white pencil throughout are drawn by long-time Pratchett collaborator Paul Kidby, although there are also 135 illustrations and photographs from the time, of places, magazines and key events.
You don’t need to have read Dodger to get a lot from this book, although the comments from Dodger throughout may make more sense if you have.
Dodger’s Guide to London is clearly one for the young enquiring mind, who wishes to know more about the real Victorian London, as well as a little of Pratchett’s fictional one. In summary, it is a good way to pass a couple of hours, after which the reader is almost guaranteed to come away with something they didn’t know before.
And coincidentally available just in time to accompany the paperback copy of Dodger for that most Victorian of celebrations, Christmas….
molokov's review
2.0
Although this is a nice little book with some interesting factoids about Victorian London, presented in a way that a Pratchett/"Dodger" fan will find them accessible, there was one big thing missing from something you'd expect associated with Terry Pratchett - humour. There was maybe 2 or 3 giggle-worthy moments in the entire book, which is not enough. Also a point to note is that despite his name being in big letters on the cover, it's plainly obvious that this is /not/ written by Terry Pratchett. The Discworld Emporium (who've released this along with last year's The World of Poo and the upcoming Mrs Bradshaw's Handbook) may need to step up their game if they want to release /good/ Pratchett spinoff material.
meeners's review against another edition
4.0
i loved "Did you know...?" books as a kid, and reading this i discovered i still love them now. super fun stuff. not sure how much of it pratchett actually wrote, but the warm spirit and the enthusiasm are surely all his. sir terry, you are dearly missed.
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