, subtitled
Nine Excursions in the Secret History of London, is a “non-fiction” collection of loosely interconnected pieces by an author previously better known for his novels and poetry. The book dates from a period in which Sinclair had become a much-in-demand commentator on London and its history, for television, radio and print media, after the success of his three novels published in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Although much of the writing brought together in this collection had its origin in essays first published in
The London Review of Books, the book is far from being simply a retrospective of articles and reviews. All of the pieces are substantially reworked and reveal Sinclair to be one of the finest essayists presently writing in English.
1446 words
Citation: Cunningham, David. "Lights Out For the Territory". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 March 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=3968, accessed 23 April 2024.]
