The Infinite City: Utopian Dreams on the Streets of London

‘Glorious’ Guardian 'Vigorous, rigorous and eminently readable’ SPECTATOR In his soaring new book, Niall Kishtainy draws us into the imaginative worlds of Thomas More, the Diggers, William Morris and Extinction Rebellion protestors. He introduces us to thinkers like Thomas Spence who threw coins stamped with the words ‘YOU FOOLS’ into the alleys of Holborn. To Ada Salter who was the first woman borough councillor in London and ignited the Bermondsey Revolution. To ninety-two-year-old Dolly Watson who became the queen of Claremont Road in Leytonstone during the Reclaim the Streets protests in the 1990s. These are inspiring tales of people who drew might from the city around them and fought for their ideologies in an increasingly transforming world. Beginning in the sixteenth century and stretching from the contemporary transformation of the East End docklands to the COVID lockdowns, The Infinite City shows how London’s spirit has been one of visionary imagination amid relentless change and innovation. In this latest biography, Kishtainy masterfully intertwines the historical and political narratives of London's most influential figures. The Infinite City is not just a book, but a journey through the social and civilizational evolution of one of the world's greatest metropolises. For fans of Jacob Field (A Short History of the World in 50 Animals), Sean Masaki Flynn (The Cure That Works), Matthew Hollis (The Waste Land), David Kynaston (A Northern Wind), and Peter Ross (Steeple Chasing). HarperCollins 2023