A unique snapshot of London life as recorded by diarists whose interests range from high politics to housework, childbirth to deathbeds, burglaries to bowel movements.

In a city of London's complexity and size, it can be difficult to pinpoint the experience of the individual at a specific period. Diaries, however, represent a valuable approach into this elusive world. Diarists may concentrate on great events or on the comparative trivia of their everyday round, but they all convey some genuine flavour of London life that is hard to find in other sources.