London's political history since Roman times, through the upheavals of the 17th century, the emergence of local democracy, the reforms of the capital's government and more upheaval in the 20th century. The author contrasts the radicalism of areas such as Clerkenwell with the conservatism bred in the gentlemen's clubs of the West End. He underlines the influence of writers such as Dickens and Mayhew, and reviews defining political moments in London's history.