21 Novels Set In London
Explore the vibrant and diverse narratives of London through 21 captivating novels that delve into the city's unique character and its inhabitants' lives. This collection highlights stories from the fringes of society, showcasing the rich tapestry of experiences that define life in the capital.
Dead-End Memories
A poignant collection of five stories by Banana Yoshimoto, exploring women’s journeys through pain toward healing and the subtle moments of happiness found in everyday life. more ...
All the Blood is Red
A powerful exploration of three Black British women navigating ambition, identity, and trauma in 1996 London, intertwined with the haunting story of Mavis and the complexities of friendship and betrayal. more ...
Loach on Loach: Updated edition
An incisive exploration of Ken Loach's filmmaking journey, revealing his enduring commitment to social justice and working-class struggles through candid conversations about his post-1998 films. more ...
The Coming of the Iron Man
A giant metal man arrives unexpectedly, causing chaos and fear, but a boy named Hogarth helps him find a home and ultimately saves the world from a space monster. more ...
Rumours of My Demise: A Memoir (Limited Edition)
The Ha-Ha (Faber Editions)
A haunting exploration of mental illness and social alienation, following Josephine’s struggle to reintegrate into society after her mother’s death and a psychiatric crisis. more ...
North (Heritage Edition)
The Anchorage
Bernard O'Donoghue's poetry collection explores how memory and story shape our sense of place and identity, blending vivid recollections of Ireland with reflections on the past's hold over us. more ...
Nature Matters: Vital Poems from the Global Majority
Nature Matters is a groundbreaking anthology that amplifies Black, Asian, and global-majority voices in nature poetry, exploring urgent ecological themes and decolonising a traditionally Western-domi… more ...
So What
Frederick Seidel’s 'So What' is a vibrant, provocative poetry collection that confronts aging with fierce wit and raw insight, hurtling through life’s complexities on a racetrack-only Superbike. more ...
Little Brother (Playscript)
Two thought-provoking plays explore human relationships and survival: a teenage brother and sister navigate love and family in a post-apocalyptic shelter, while diplomats engage in cyclical internati… more ...
Biting Point (Playscript)
Apex Predator (Playscript)
Kyoto (Playscript)
Normal People (Members Edition)
Never Let Me Go (Members Edition)
In a haunting dystopian England, Kathy H. reflects on her childhood at Hailsham School, uncovering a poignant tale of love, friendship, and the fragile nature of life shaped by a chilling secret. more ...
Outline Trilogy (Members Edition)
White Egrets (Members Edition)
The Lowlife
In Hackney’s gritty underworld, Jewish bachelor Harryboy Boas gambles with fate, love, and his haunted past, spiraling into a dark world of crime and revenge. more ...
Under the Net
A witty and philosophical debut novel following Jake, a struggling writer in 1950s London, whose chaotic relationships and misadventures reveal deeper truths about freedom and human connection. more ...
Hangover Square
Set in pre-WWII London, Hangover Square is a dark, compelling portrait of George Harvey Bone, a troubled man obsessed with a manipulative woman, whose mental breakdown leads to tragic consequences. more ...
The Lonely Londoners
A poignant and often humorous portrayal of West Indian immigrants striving to build new lives in 1950s London, navigating racism, loneliness, and community. more ...
The Glass Pearls
Offshore
A vivid portrait of an eccentric houseboat community on the Thames, where lives intertwine in unexpected ways amid the struggle for belonging and survival. more ...
NW
Zadie Smith’s NW is a vivid, tragicomic portrait of four Londoners navigating the complexities of identity, class, and friendship in a city that is both brutal and beautiful. more ...
City of the Mind
An architect navigating the ruins of his failed marriage and the layered history of London, Matthew Halland confronts the past and present as he builds a new life amid the city's evolving landscape. more ...
The Buddha of Suburbia
A vibrant coming-of-age story set in 1970s South London, following Karim Amir as he navigates identity, race, class, and belonging amidst social upheaval and personal discovery. more ...
London Fields
A terminally ill writer in a decaying London races against time to narrate the doomed Nicola Six’s story, a murder mystery entwined with dark humor, sex, and sharp language. more ...
Rivers of London
Peter Grant, a young London constable, discovers a hidden world of magic and gods while investigating supernatural crimes in the city. more ...
A Stranger City
A gripping, polyphonic novel set in contemporary London, where the discovery of a dead woman in the Thames sparks a search that reveals the city's intertwined lives and complex sense of home. more ...
River
A woman escapes her past by moving to a London suburb, where solitary walks along the River Lea awaken memories of rivers from her life, blending poetic nature observations with poignant reflections … more ...
Evenings and Weekends
Set in a scorching June 2019 London, this searing tale explores love, sex, class, and the struggles of a group of intertwined lives on the brink of change. more ...
Queenie
Queenie is a sharp, darkly comic novel about a young Black woman navigating love, race, and identity in contemporary London, grappling with cultural belonging and personal choices. more ...
Murphy
Samuel Beckett's first novel, Murphy, is a darkly comic exploration of isolation and the search for stupor in a fragmented world, told through brilliantly original language. more ...
Keep the Aspidistra Flying
George Orwell's novel follows Gordon Comstock, a poet who rebels against society's obsession with money, only to face the harsh realities of poverty and social expectations. more ...
The Ballad of Peckham Rye
A devilish Scottish migrant named Dougal Douglas arrives in a working-class London town, stirring chaos, secrets, and upheaval in this wickedly farcical social satire. more ...
A Concise Chinese–English Dictionary for Lovers
A young Chinese woman named Z arrives in London to learn English and navigate love, culture, and identity, told through her evolving English and unique voice. more ...
Capital
A mystic archaeologist and a historian explore London's layered past and future, revealing the city's secrets through voices from Neanderthals to kings in a vivid blend of history and contemporary life. more ...
A Touch of Mistletoe
A poignant coming-of-age novel following sisters Victoria and Blanche as they navigate poverty, family struggles, and the pursuit of art and independence in pre-WWII England. more ...
The Lowlife (Faber Editions)
A gritty dive into Hackney’s underworld through the eyes of Harryboy Boas, a Jewish bachelor whose life spirals into crime, debt, and violence after a new family moves in. more ...
The Glass Pearls (Faber Editions)
A gripping noir thriller about an ex-Nazi surgeon hiding in 1960s London, blending psychological tension with moral complexity from the acclaimed filmmaker Emeric Pressburger. more ...
Torchfire (Indie & Website Exclusive)
The gripping second installment in Moira Buffini’s dystopian fantasy trilogy, Torchfire plunges readers deeper into a fractured world where telepathic powers called songlight define survival and alle… more ...
iNSiDE
Things I Learned While I Was Dead
A gripping sci-fi debut exploring medical ethics, consent, and survival in a dystopian future where cryogenics offers hope but hides dark secrets. more ...
Letters from Wonderland
A beautifully illustrated collection of letters that guides readers into discovering the magic and mystery hidden in everyday places, helping them reclaim wonder and inner peace. more ...
Yellow Moon (Playscript)
A modern medicine woman in New Orleans battles supernatural forces and racial tensions, blending ancient voodoo with contemporary healing in a gripping, eerie thriller. more ...
The list '21 Novels Set In London' celebrates the republication of Alexander Baron’s post-war classic, _The Lowlife_, by showcasing a selection of novels that capture the essence of London through various lenses. Each book offers a unique perspective on life in the city, from the gritty underbelly of post-war Hackney to the vibrant experiences of immigrants navigating their new lives. Readers will encounter a range of characters, from gamblers and aspiring writers to those grappling with identity and belonging. This collection not only highlights the struggles and triumphs of its protagonists but also reflects the ever-changing landscape of London itself. With works by renowned authors such as Zadie Smith, George Orwell, and Samuel Beckett, this list invites readers to immerse themselves in the stories that reveal the complexities of urban life. Whether you're a lifelong Londoner or an armchair traveler, these novels promise to transport you into the heart of the city.