Here London is a patchwork quilt laid out before in this tremendous book. The 80 voices of this book are the different colours, patterns and textures of the quilt.

Sympathise with the terrified Ugandan woman newly arrived in London, more frightened about her underground journey than her refugee interview.

Meet the voice of the Underground: you won’t feel so irritated next time she tells you about a delay in your journey home.

Rejoice at the kindness of strangers with Craig from the TfL Lost Property Office.

Learn new facts about the Tower of London from Philip and Ann who live there.

Other contributors include a rapper, nurse, rickshaw-rider, teacher, beekeeper, squatter, chef, Wiccan priestess and a street cleaner.  Each section is just a page or two, but you get a surprising amount of detail and personality on those few pages. This structure makes it an ideal book to pick up in a spare moment, or to read on the underground or bus.

It gives a fascinating insight into London and its people and, in my view, is a must-read for anyone who lives in or is visiting London.

Londoner: The days and nights of London now, as told by those who love it, hate it, live it, left it and long for it / Craig Taylor. – Granta Publications, 2011