TELEVISION

Notorious London: A City Tour

Series: Notorious London: A City Tour
3.5
(116)
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Episodes
12
Rating
TVPG
Year
2021
Language
English
Publisher
The Great Courses

About

Notorious London: A City Tour dips into various regions and eras of London's past to give you a multifaceted look at this remarkable metropolis. From the destruction of St. Paul's Cathedral and the dark history of the Tower of London to the chaos of World War II, and beyond, these stories bring London to life across the centuries and illuminate the darker corners of a complex city.

Related Subjects

Episodes

1 to 3 of 12

1. Oscar Wilde's Decadent London

34m

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Begin your historical tour of London with a look at the city when it was home to Oscar Wilde at the close of the 19th century. Trace the details of Wilde's trial for indecency as you examine the way London society was structured and how immense wealth and privilege-for some-left its imprint on the city and its history.

2. St. Paul's Cathedral in Faith, Fire, and Sin

30m

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St. Paul's Cathedral has overlooked London from a high point in the city for generations. Uncover the history of this church that has been so much more than a place of worship for the people of London, and has survived fire, plague, and the ravages of war. Here, you will look at several episodes from the cathedral's long and storied past.

3. Getting Blitzed at London's Café de Paris

31m

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Go back in time to an evening in March of 1941, when the Café de Paris-a popular center of London nightlife in the 1930s and 40s-was destroyed in the Blitz. Uncover the history of the Café and see how its destruction reflects not only the horrors of wartime London, but the resiliency of the citizens who had to "keep calm and carry on" under the threat of war.

4. On Carnaby Street during the Swinging '60s

29m

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Carnaby Street emerged during the expansion of London in the 17th century and would go on to become a symbol of social change in the 1960s. Look back on the history of this three-block stretch of city street and see why it became such a magnet for trendsetters and youth culture in post-war London, and examine why these changes were embraced by some and seen as a threat by others.

5. A History of Infamy in the Tower of London

32m

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Dive into the long history of the Tower of London and its many roles: fortress; royal residence; mint; armory; military garrison; zoo; and, perhaps most notably, prison. From the days of William the Conqueror to the Victorian era and later, you will see how this structure has played a significant part in London's long and notorious history.

6. Underground Catholics of Protestant London

28m

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Following the Protestant Reformation of her father Henry VIII's reign, Elizabeth I and her successor James I ruled over an England torn by religious controversy and their rules were characterized by multiple conspiracies. Relive the history of religious persecution in London, from the pro-Catholic Mary I to her Protestant successors.

Extended Details

  • Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

The Great Coursesdirector
The Great Coursesproducer
Paul Deslandesactor