Literature: London, Lisbon?
May 14, 2017 3:59 PM Subscribe
I'm going to Europe for the first time in my life in June! We're going to London for a week, and then Lisbon. Can you recommend some books or music that might help me enjoy the experience a little more?
I am not really looking for travel guides (but if you know of one that's particularly good, I'm into it). Just any books you may have known and loved that have some link to either of those cities.
My interests are very broad, I love history... anything that predates the 1700s is particularly interesting to me because I'm American and there's not much here that goes back so far. Love art, food, wine, music as well. I'm particularly interested in musical and culinary subcultures, and would love to explore some of the multiculture of London, which I feel woefully uninformed about.
We have a week in both cities and will be able to take pilgrimages or even a couple days to areas further out.
So, this question is broad for a reason! I'd love to spend all of my time until then reading novels, non fiction, etc that might inspire me to check something out I already haven't planned. Is there a book you've read that made you better understand or fall in love with some aspect of either of these cities?
As far as music, I'm already listening to tons of my favorite early English punk rock and ska, as well as English soul pop, and of course, Fado music.
I am not really looking for travel guides (but if you know of one that's particularly good, I'm into it). Just any books you may have known and loved that have some link to either of those cities.
My interests are very broad, I love history... anything that predates the 1700s is particularly interesting to me because I'm American and there's not much here that goes back so far. Love art, food, wine, music as well. I'm particularly interested in musical and culinary subcultures, and would love to explore some of the multiculture of London, which I feel woefully uninformed about.
We have a week in both cities and will be able to take pilgrimages or even a couple days to areas further out.
So, this question is broad for a reason! I'd love to spend all of my time until then reading novels, non fiction, etc that might inspire me to check something out I already haven't planned. Is there a book you've read that made you better understand or fall in love with some aspect of either of these cities?
As far as music, I'm already listening to tons of my favorite early English punk rock and ska, as well as English soul pop, and of course, Fado music.
Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere always makes me appreciate the London Underground even more than I would otherwise.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 5:32 PM on May 14, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 5:32 PM on May 14, 2017 [4 favorites]
Best answer: A History of the World in 100 Objects? Available as a book or podcast. You can then see the objects at the British Museum.
posted by poxandplague at 6:02 PM on May 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by poxandplague at 6:02 PM on May 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's based on a novel (which I believe isn't available in translation), but Mysteries of Lisbon is worth a look if you're in the mood for a lengthy Dickensian tale.
posted by juv3nal at 6:03 PM on May 14, 2017
posted by juv3nal at 6:03 PM on May 14, 2017
Best answer: John Gay's 1716 poem Trivia, or the Art of Walking the Streets of London is a good one. His script for The Beggar's Opera also takes place in early 1700s London, and is a fun read.
posted by Pallas Athena at 6:10 PM on May 14, 2017
posted by Pallas Athena at 6:10 PM on May 14, 2017
I always like Blue Guides for serious attempts to understand and appreciate historical sites, though I can't speak to the Blue Guides for either London or Lisbon.
posted by crazy with stars at 7:29 PM on May 14, 2017
posted by crazy with stars at 7:29 PM on May 14, 2017
Read Dickens Bleak House and then go see the Inns of Court. It is a part of London many people miss and yet among its most atmospheric.
posted by vacapinta at 1:14 AM on May 15, 2017
posted by vacapinta at 1:14 AM on May 15, 2017
Best answer: For Lisbon, you might try The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis which essentially combines Saramago (the true author) with Pessoa (Ricardo Reis being a heteronym). The main character takes long walks around Lisbon so the city features as well.
posted by vacapinta at 1:20 AM on May 15, 2017
posted by vacapinta at 1:20 AM on May 15, 2017
Best answer: For music of Lisbon, you might also try listening to Madredeus. They're a modern band but the music is distinctively portuguese with that same melancholy strain you hear in Fado. The band was pretty popular (the core members have now all left) and were even featured prominently in the Wim Wenders film Lisbon Story.
If you're wandering what all that peppy music is that is played at all the festivals, that would be Pimba. You can find plenty of stuff on youtube with that keyword.
posted by vacapinta at 1:30 AM on May 15, 2017 [2 favorites]
If you're wandering what all that peppy music is that is played at all the festivals, that would be Pimba. You can find plenty of stuff on youtube with that keyword.
posted by vacapinta at 1:30 AM on May 15, 2017 [2 favorites]
There are so many books set in London that add to the experience. I like neal stephenson's Baroque Cycle, particularly Quicksilver for a fictionalised story set mainly in London around the plague and great fire.
Much more modern, the Rivers of London series starting here is modern detective fiction but with magic.
Likewise, the Midnight Mayor books are fantasy set in an alternate London. Start at Madness of Angels
I seem to recall a lot of Nick Hornby's books being set in London.
Non fiction, but I enjoyed Do Not Pass Go about visiting the places around the monopoly board.
posted by kadia_a at 1:57 AM on May 15, 2017
Much more modern, the Rivers of London series starting here is modern detective fiction but with magic.
Likewise, the Midnight Mayor books are fantasy set in an alternate London. Start at Madness of Angels
I seem to recall a lot of Nick Hornby's books being set in London.
Non fiction, but I enjoyed Do Not Pass Go about visiting the places around the monopoly board.
posted by kadia_a at 1:57 AM on May 15, 2017
Best answer: For music, here's a relevant AskMe: What kinds of music does London deserve credit for?
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 2:09 AM on May 15, 2017
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 2:09 AM on May 15, 2017
A disclaimer that I have not actually read this, but I saw this at Waterstones when I was in London 2 weeks ago and it seems like it would be up your alley: London: A Travel Guide through Time.
I have read Craig Taylor's Londoners and highly recommend it. It's a collection of first-person narratives by various Londoners and does a good job, I think, of talking to a wide variety of people.
In addition, I just finished The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla, which has on its back cover "What's it like to live in a country that doesn't trust you and doesn't want you unless you win an Olympic gold medal or a national baking competition?" and is a collection of first-person narratives by black, Asian and minority ethnic British writers. So, not specifically about London, but it gets to Britain's modern diversity, and I think is a good counterpart to the often lily-white tourist image of Britain and London.
posted by andrewesque at 6:31 AM on May 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
I have read Craig Taylor's Londoners and highly recommend it. It's a collection of first-person narratives by various Londoners and does a good job, I think, of talking to a wide variety of people.
In addition, I just finished The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla, which has on its back cover "What's it like to live in a country that doesn't trust you and doesn't want you unless you win an Olympic gold medal or a national baking competition?" and is a collection of first-person narratives by black, Asian and minority ethnic British writers. So, not specifically about London, but it gets to Britain's modern diversity, and I think is a good counterpart to the often lily-white tourist image of Britain and London.
posted by andrewesque at 6:31 AM on May 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
How about "Nighttrain to Lisbon"?
I know only the movie, not the novel. The critics were not so good but I think, if you like Lisbon, it is actually an underrated movie. I took the link to wikipedia out of my reply. I think it is better you know nothing about the movie and just enjoy it. Not read the plot before.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 6:52 AM on May 15, 2017
I know only the movie, not the novel. The critics were not so good but I think, if you like Lisbon, it is actually an underrated movie. I took the link to wikipedia out of my reply. I think it is better you know nothing about the movie and just enjoy it. Not read the plot before.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 6:52 AM on May 15, 2017
Best answer: For another musical tidbit that ties the UK and Lisbon and Metafilter together:
You might also hear a lot of 80's music in Lisbon. There's a radio station called M80. Portugal produced a lot of 80's bands and many of them have that Manchester Factory sound.
One of the main reasons for this is that in the 80's the then journalist Miguel Esteves Cardoso (MEC) was studying in Manchester and befriending Factory bands like Joy Division and Durrutti Column. MEC went on to found his own record label too - Fundação Atlântica which kicked off many Portuguese bands.
From the notes for Durruti Column's album Amigos em Portugal:
Phil Cleaver asked me to write some notes for the reissue of Amigos em Portugal and share some of the background about it. In 2013, I went looking for some answers and I've discovered that Amigos em Portugal starts in 1982 on a visit to Vilar de Mouros, a local festival in the north of Portugal. Tony Wilson was friend of Miguel Esteves Cardoso, one of the founders of Fundação Atlântica, who invited Durutti Column to record. So, as Bruce told me, Vini went to the studio with Francisca Wraith and recorded it very fast as he used to do it. Bruce didn’t go since his wife was ill at the time.
The Metafilter connection? Miguel doesn't post much but he is one of Metafilter's most prolific early users. Go ask on Metatalk if you want to know more.
(PS. MEC is a well-known author too but his stuff hasn't been translated. PPS. He could do it himself since he has an exceptional command of English.)
posted by vacapinta at 8:35 AM on May 15, 2017 [3 favorites]
You might also hear a lot of 80's music in Lisbon. There's a radio station called M80. Portugal produced a lot of 80's bands and many of them have that Manchester Factory sound.
One of the main reasons for this is that in the 80's the then journalist Miguel Esteves Cardoso (MEC) was studying in Manchester and befriending Factory bands like Joy Division and Durrutti Column. MEC went on to found his own record label too - Fundação Atlântica which kicked off many Portuguese bands.
From the notes for Durruti Column's album Amigos em Portugal:
Phil Cleaver asked me to write some notes for the reissue of Amigos em Portugal and share some of the background about it. In 2013, I went looking for some answers and I've discovered that Amigos em Portugal starts in 1982 on a visit to Vilar de Mouros, a local festival in the north of Portugal. Tony Wilson was friend of Miguel Esteves Cardoso, one of the founders of Fundação Atlântica, who invited Durutti Column to record. So, as Bruce told me, Vini went to the studio with Francisca Wraith and recorded it very fast as he used to do it. Bruce didn’t go since his wife was ill at the time.
The Metafilter connection? Miguel doesn't post much but he is one of Metafilter's most prolific early users. Go ask on Metatalk if you want to know more.
(PS. MEC is a well-known author too but his stuff hasn't been translated. PPS. He could do it himself since he has an exceptional command of English.)
posted by vacapinta at 8:35 AM on May 15, 2017 [3 favorites]
Jose Saramago's History of the Siege of Lisbon might be of interest. It's as much about the process of historicization as it is about history, but it uses historical events in the history of Lisbon and Portugal as its foundation.
posted by lousywiththespirit at 12:07 PM on May 15, 2017
posted by lousywiththespirit at 12:07 PM on May 15, 2017
Helene Hanff's story of visiting London, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, is often bundled together in editions of 84 Charing Cross Road - a justifiably famous trifle about her friendship with a British bookseller. Great for London literary and historical tidbits.
posted by Gin and Broadband at 1:01 PM on May 15, 2017
posted by Gin and Broadband at 1:01 PM on May 15, 2017
(Nuts, posted too soon, forgive the double!) For Lisbon, Pereira Maintains - aka Pereira Declares/Declares Pereira - by Antonio Tabucchi.
posted by Gin and Broadband at 1:29 PM on May 15, 2017
posted by Gin and Broadband at 1:29 PM on May 15, 2017
I second the recommendation for Londoners; because it’s lots of short pieces it’s great for having on your phone and just dipping into when you have a moment.
And sort of similar is Lee Jackson’s Daily Life in Victorian London, which is an anthology of extracts from primary sources: newspapers, diaries, memoirs, guidebooks. I found when I was reading it I was constantly reading it out to people.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 2:10 AM on May 17, 2017
And sort of similar is Lee Jackson’s Daily Life in Victorian London, which is an anthology of extracts from primary sources: newspapers, diaries, memoirs, guidebooks. I found when I was reading it I was constantly reading it out to people.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 2:10 AM on May 17, 2017
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I'll be watching this thread for recs re Lisbon, that's on my list too, supposed to be fantastic!
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:30 PM on May 14, 2017 [1 favorite]