Thomas Almeroth-Williams book on the role of animals in Georgian London published

Posted on 5 June 2019

Research Associates book City of Beasts is now available.

Thomas Almeroth-Williams, who is a Research Associate for the centre, has published a book celebrating the four-legged heroes of Georgian London. City of Beasts draws upon contemporary sources to examine how the large number of animals living in the capital influenced the economy, architecture, culture and social relations.

“Historians usually cast animals in this period as victims but they were so much more interesting and powerful than this,” says Almeroth-Williams, a historian from the University of York and a pig farmer’s son.

“Horses, livestock and dogs transformed London’s economy, architecture, culture and social relations. They changed the way Londoners thought and behaved so you really can’t understand what it was like to live in this city without putting animals centre stage."

The book opens up a fresh perspective on daily life in Georgian Britain, and challenges assumptions around London's role in both the Industrial Revolution and the development of equestrian culture.

Find out more and pre-order the book
Almeroth-Williams, T. (2019), City of Beasts, Manchester University Press.