Horse-drawn cabs rattling down muddy roads, cattle herded through the streets to the Smithfield meat market for slaughter, roosters crowing at the break of dawn—London was once filled with a cacophony of animal noises (and smells). But over the last thirty years, the city seems to have banished animals from its streets. In Beastly London, Hannah Velten uses a wide range of primary sources to explore the complex and changing relationship between Londoners of all classes and their animal neighbors. Velten travels back in history to describe a time when Londoners shared their homes with pets and livestock—along with a variety of other pests, vermin, and bedbugs; Londoners imported beasts from all corners of the globe for display in their homes, zoos, and parks; and ponies flying in hot air balloons and dancing fleas were considered entertainment. As she shows, London transformed from a city with a mainly exploitative relationship with animals to the birthplace of animal welfare societies and animal rights’ campaigns. Packed with over one hundred illustrations, Beastly London is a revealing look at how animals have been central to the city’s success.

Moving away from the philosophical, fictional, and humanitarian sources used by previous animal studies, this work focuses on the role of animals--horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, and dogs--in shaping Georgian London.an London.

A celebration of the visual contributions of the bestiary--one of the most popular types of illuminated books during the Middle Ages--and an exploration of its lasting legacy. Brimming with lively animals both real and fantastic, the bestiary was one of the great illuminated manuscript traditions of the Middle Ages. Encompassing imaginary creatures such as the unicorn, siren, and griffin; exotic beasts including the tiger, elephant, and ape; as well as animals native to Europe like the beaver, dog, and hedgehog, the bestiary is a vibrant testimony to the medieval understanding of animals and their role in the world. So iconic were the stories and images of the bestiary that its beasts essentially escaped from the pages, appearing in a wide variety of manuscripts and other objects, including tapestries, ivories, metalwork, and sculpture. With over 270 color illustrations and contributions by twenty-five leading scholars, this gorgeous volume explores the bestiary and its widespread influence on medieval art and culture as well as on modern and contemporary artists like Pablo Picasso and Damien Hirst. Published to accompany an exhibition on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center May 14 to August 18, 2019.

In this electrifying Dracula retelling, Mina Murray takes center stage, embarking on a dangerous adventure that melds historical mystery with supernatural thrills... London, 1890. Once adventurous, Mina Murray now lives a quiet life as a schoolteacher, engaged to the respectable solicitor Jonathan Harker, and attempting to fit into the stuffy upper-class London society. But when vampires abduct Jonathan, her dark past resurfaces. Determined to rescue him, she teams up with her former paramour, Abraham Van Helsing, and his colleague, Scotland Yard Inspector John Seward. As they chase Jonathan's abductors from Victorian London to the Low Countries and beyond, Mina discovers that his abduction is tied to a larger, sinister threat against humanity... Start reading this gripping gothic thriller and historical fantasy now! This Dracula retelling intertwines dark fantasy, paranormal romance, and historical horror, creating a suspenseful gothic novel rich with Victorian-era fantasy for fans of classic horror retellings. The Mina Murray Series The Beast of London (Book 1) Fortress of Blood (Book 2) Realm of Night (Book 3) Mina Murray Series Bundle (Books 1-3) This book will captivate readers searching for: steampunk, Dracula retellings, Mina Harker, Jonathan Harker, Abraham Van Helsing, Mina Murray, Victorian London, gaslamp, historical mysteries, supernatural thrillers, vampires, mysteries, adventure, gothic romance, historical fantasy, gaslamp fantasy, paranormal suspense, action-adventure, historical thrillers, Victorian-era fiction, dark historical fiction, fantasy thriller, spooky historical fiction, women in horror, classic literature retellings, Victorian fantasy novels, historical romance with a twist, epic historical fantasy, dark and eerie tales, creepy Victorian tales, supernatural historical adventures, vampire hunters, Victorian England, dark and twisted tales, historical thrillers with strong female leads, mystery thrillers set in Victorian times, suspenseful vampire stories, and Victorian gothic horror.

In this electrifying retelling of a classic tale, Mina Murray takes center stage, embarking on a dangerous adventure... London, 1890. Mina Murray once lived an adventurous life, but after a tragedy in the forests of Transylvania, she left it all behind. Now she has settled into a quiet routine as a schoolteacher in London, engaged to the respectable solicitor Jonathan Harker, attempting to fit into the stuffy upper class London society to which he belongs. But when vampires abduct Jonathan, her dark past comes careening into her present. Determined to rescue him, she teams up with her former paramour Abraham Van Helsing and his colleague, Scotland Yard Inspector John Seward. As they pursue Jonathan's abductors from England to the Low Countries and beyond, Mina realizes that Jonathan's abduction is tied to a larger threat against humanity...

First Published in 1967. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

In the eighteenth century, it would not have been impossible to encounter an elephant or a kangaroo making its way down the Strand, heading towards the menagerie of Mr. Pidcock at the Exeter Change. Pidcock's was just one of a number of commercial menagerists who plied their trade in London in this period the predecessors to the zoological societies of the Victorian era. As the British Empire expanded and seaborne trade flooded into London's ports, the menagerists gained access to animals from the most far-flung corners of the globe, and these strange creatures became the objects of fascination and wonder. Many aristocratic families sought to create their own private menageries with which to entertain their guests, while for the less well-heeled, touring exhibitions of exotic creatures both alive and dead satisfied their curiosity for the animal world. While many exotic creatures were treasured as a form of spectacle, others fared less well turtles went into soups and civet cats were sought after for ingredients for perfume. In this entertaining and enlightening book, Plumb introduces the many tales of exotic animals in London.