Sign-In
Cart
Birmingham: Portrait of a British city
Paperback
Currently unavailable to order
Please enter your email and a message will be sent to you when this product becomes available on our website.
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Apr 5 2025
Pages: 162
Weight: 0.50
Height: 0.35 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
From a humble Anglo-Saxon settlement named Beormingahām to the Workshop of the World, this book chronicles the relentless transformation of Birmingham. It explores how a landlocked town, without the advantage of a major river, defied geography to become the crucible of the Industrial Revolution. Delving into its medieval origins as a market town, the narrative charts its rise through the era of the Lunar Society, where figures like Matthew Boulton and James Watt harnessed the power of steam, and its consolidation as the City of a Thousand Trades, a powerhouse of production whose goods reached every corner of the globe.
The portrait of Birmingham is one of dramatic contrasts. The book examines the immense civic pride and ambition of the Victorian era, which saw the construction of a magnificent city centre under the radical Civic Gospel of Joseph Chamberlain. This progress is set against the harsh reality of life for the working majority in the city's notorious back-to-back courts. It uncovers Birmingham's crucial role as a hotbed of political reform, from the mass movements that fought for democracy in the 19th century to the forging of a new kind of civic government that would become a model for the nation.
This comprehensive history navigates the immense challenges and changes of the 20th and 21st centuries. It recounts the city's vital role as the nation's arsenal during the Blitz, the post-war boom that saw it crowned Britain's Motor City, and the painful industrial decline that followed. The narrative then turns to the city's remarkable capacity for reinvention, detailing the ambitious and often controversial regeneration projects that have reshaped its skyline, sweeping away the concrete landscape of the 1960s to create a bold, modern metropolis symbolised by the iconic Selfridges building and the landmark Library of Birmingham.
Beyond the industry and architecture, this is a vivid exploration of the city's soul. It celebrates the rich tapestry of cultures woven by generations of immigrants, from the Irish who dug the canals to the communities from the Caribbean and South Asia who have profoundly shaped its modern identity. The book takes a journey through Birmingham's unique cultural landscape, exploring the origins of the Brummie accent, the birth of music genres from Heavy Metal to Bhangra, its pioneering theatre scene, its surprising literary legacy in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and its most famous culinary invention, the Birmingham Balti. From its passionate football rivalries to its role as host of the Commonwealth Games, this is the definitive story of a truly British city.
Also from
Bugeja, Alex
Sailing Free: A Life on the Waves: How to Live, Travel, and Explore the World by Yacht
Bugeja, Alex
Paperback
Rolling Freedom: Embracing the Van Life: A Practical Guide to Adventure, Minimalism, and Living on the Road
Bugeja, Alex
Paperback
Also in
Great Britain
Lonely Planet Scotland: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, the Highlands, Shet
Gillespie, Kay
Reaney, Joseph
Wilson, Neil
Paperback
Insight Guides Scotland: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Culture & Society Must-See Sights Stunning Photos Expert Advice Covers: Edinburgh, Highlan
Longley, Norm
Insight Guides
Paperback
Fodor's Essential Great Britain: With the Best of England, Scotland and Wales
Fodor's Travel Guides
Paperback
London, Block by Block: An Illustrated Guide to the Best of England's Capital
Block, Cierra
Hardcover
Lonely Planet London: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Tower of London, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and More
Fallon, Steve
Bremner, Jade
Dovi, Vivienne
Paperback
The Cotswold Way: National Trail Two-Way Trail Guide - Chipping Campden to Bath
Reynolds, Kev
Paperback
Lonely Planet Great Britain: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers England, Scotland, Wales, Buckingham Palace,
Albiston, Isabel
Walker, Kerry
Berry, Oliver
Paperback
Midsomer Murders Location Guide: Discover the Villages, Pubs and Churches Behind the Hit TV Series
Hopkinson, Frank
Paperback
Lonely Planet Pocket London: Discover Twice the City in Half the Time Top Sights Maps & Walking Tours Covers Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Regen
Bremner, Jade
Dovi, Vivienne
Fallon, Steve
Paperback
Lonely Planet England: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers London, Devon & Cornwall, the Lakes, Cumbria, Oxfor
Bremner, Jade
Luxton, Emily
Le Nevez, Catherine
Paperback
Rough Guides England: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: London, the Cotswolds, the Lake District a
Reeves, Joanna
Longley, Norm
Guides, Rough
Paperback
DK Top 10 Edinburgh: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
DK Top 10 London: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
Lonely Planet Scotland's Highlands & Islands: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Southern Highlands & Islands
Reaney, Joseph
Gillespie, Kay
Wilson, Neil
Paperback
The UK to USA Dictionary New Edition: British English vs. American English
Dervaes, Claudine
Hunter, John
Paperback
English Country House Style: Traditions, Secrets, and Unwritten Rules
Campbell, Milo
Campbell, Katy
Hardcover
Lonely Planet Wales: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Cardiff, Brecon Beacons & Southeast Wales, Swansea an
Pay, Amy
Walker, Kerry
Jones, Portia
Paperback
Rough Guides Cotswolds, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Oxford: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Oxf
Teller, Matthew
Guides, Rough
Paperback
Unseen Scotland: The Hidden Places, History and Folklore of the Wild Isle
Walker, Bryan Millar
Hardcover
DK Top 10 Cornwall and Devon: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Great Britain: 37 Driving Itineraries Detailed Directions & Maps Local Tips Covers Edinburgh, Bath, Cambridge, Welsh Mou
Berry, Oliver
Le Nevez, Catherine
Albiston, Isabel
Paperback
DK Top 10 Scotland: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
London: The Extraordinary Guide: An Insider Tour of Art, Food, and Culture
Benoist, Valentine
Jalbert, Laura
Hardcover
Jane Was Here: An Illustrated Guide to Jane Austen's England
MacLennan, Devynn
Nilson, Lexi
Jacobsen, Nicole
Hardcover
How the Heather Looks: a joyous journey to the British sources of children's books
Bodger, Joan
Paperback
The British Cookbook: Authentic Home Cooking Recipes from England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
Mervis, Ben
Hardcover
Lonely Planet Experience England: Build a Trip to Remember Local Insights Maps & Planning Tools Covers London, Southeast and Southwest England, Birmin
Bremner, Jade
Elliott, Jenny
Le Nevez, Catherine
Paperback
Moon Scotland: Highland Road Trips, Outdoor Adventures, Pubs & Castles
Coffey, Sally
Moon Travel Guides
Paperback
Michelin Travel Guides Short Stays: London: Fully Updated and Includes Detachable Map
Michelin Editions
Paperback
Wild Guide Scotland: Second Edition: Hidden Places, Great Adventures and the Good Life
Grant, Kimberley
Copper, David
Gaston, Richard
Paperback
Lonely Planet Experience Wales: Build a Trip to Remember Local Insights Maps & Planning Tools Covers Cardiff, Brecon Beacons, Swansea, Pembrokeshire,
Walker, Kerry
Jones, Portia
Pay, Amy
Paperback
Trekking the Cotswold Way: Two-Way Trekking Guide with OS 1:25k Maps: 18 Different Itineraries
McCluggage, Andrew
Paperback
Moon London, Paris & Amsterdam: Experience Three Unique Cities in One Unforgettable Trip
Newens, Chris
Moon Travel Guides
Paperback
Isle of Man (Slow Travel): Local, Characterful Guides to Britain's Special Places
Craig, Emma
Paperback
Rough Guides North Coast 500: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Inverness, Applecross, John O
Franks, Richard
Guides, Rough
Paperback
Lonely Planet Experience Great Britain: Build a Trip to Remember Local Insights Maps & Planning Tools Covers London, the South, the Midlands, the Nort
Dixon, Belinda
Carrier, Rhonda
Walker, Kerry
Paperback
Lonely Planet Devon & Cornwall: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers South Coast, Coastal Walks, Dartmoor Natio
Luxton, Emily
Berry, Oliver
Paperback
London: The Hidden Corners for Curious Wanderers: The Sunday Times Bestseller
Chesher, Jack
Hardcover
Rough Guides Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Dorse
Hancock, Matthew
Guides, Rough
Paperback
Rough Guides Mini Glasgow: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Merchant City, West End, Kelving
Guides, Rough
Stafford, Paul
Paperback
Rough Guides Norfolk and Suffolk: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Norwich, the Norfolk Broa
Dunford, Martin
Guides, Rough
Lee, Phil
Paperback
A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland and the Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides
Johnson, Samuel
Boswell, James
Paperback
South Downs Way: British Walking Guide: Winchester-Eastbourne-Winchester - 64 Large-Scale Walking Maps (1:20,000) & Guides to 49 Towns & Villages - Pl
Stedman, Henry
Manthorpe, Jim
Paperback
Joolz Guides: Rather Splendid London Pub Walks: A Charming Trundle Through London's Neighbourhoods Via Its Fabulous Drinking Houses
McDonnell, Julian
Paperback
The Mini Rough Guide to Scotland: Travel Guide with eBook
Guides, Rough
Longley, Norm
Staddon, Jackie
Paperback
Lessons from the Cotswolds: Two Old Fogies Dodge Disasters while Walking Through the Cotswolds
Beutel, Lele
Paperback
Walking the South West Coast Path: National Trail from Minehead to South Haven Point
Dillon, Paddy
Paperback
Britain - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Riches, Sarah
Culture Smart!
Paperback
Rough Guides Pocket Isle of Wight: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Cowes, Newport, Ryde and
Guides, Rough
White, Aimee
Paperback
Searching in St. Andrews: Finding the Meaning of Golf During the Game's Most Turbulent Summer
Zak, Sean
Hardcover
20 Scottish Gaelic Short Stories for Beginners: An English-Scottish Gaelic Dual-Language Book for Easy Reading and Learning
Mengioglu, Duygu
Paperback
Rough Guides Pocket Isle of Skye and the Western Isles: Travel Guide with eBook
Guides, Rough
Longley, Norm
Paperback
Cornwall Coast Path: British Walking Guide: SW Coast Path Part 2 - Bude to Plymouth Includes 142 Large-Scale Walking Maps (1:20,000) & Guides to 81 To
Stedman, Henry
Newton, Joel
Paperback
Rather Splendid London Walks: Joolz Guides' Quirky and Informative Walks Through the World's Greatest Capital City
McDonnell, Julian
Paperback