The Haunts of Old Cockaigne

An eager observer writes to a longtime friend, confessing how the great, grimy metropolis has both entranced and bewildered him. Through a succession of letters, essays, and newspaper pieces, he charts his shifting devotion to London, comparing it with other cities he has known and teasing out the paradox of its beauty and its chaos. The voice is conversational yet erudite, mixing personal anecdotes with sharp social commentary, and it invites listeners to join a thoughtful stroll down historic alleys.

The collection moves from the bustling Strand to the hidden corners of Seven Dials, from ghostly tavern tales to a playful debate on Shakespeare’s origins. Interspersed with vivid descriptions of markets, chapels, and riverbanks, each piece paints a portrait of a city that is at once monstrous and magnificent. Listeners will feel the fog, hear the clatter of carriage wheels, and taste the humor of a writer who loves London enough to lay bare its contradictions.