Literary Road Map of Islington

Celebrate our borough's long, rich heritage of authors, screenwriters, poets and writers who live or work here

Literary Road Map of Islington celebrates our borough’s long, rich heritage of authors, screenwriters, poets and writers who have lived here, and the literary works which have been inspired by or set here.

Search the list below to see the novels, plays and poems which were written about Islington and the authors, such as Andrea Levy (1956-2019), who were born or lived in the borough, or Charles Dickens (1812-1870, who used various locations around Islington in their novels.

Also, look at our interactive map to see the literary connections to your area of Islington. To do this click on ‘Show Layers’, ‘Recreation & Leisure’ and check the ‘Literary Road Map’ box.

 

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  • North

Lear, Edward

1812-1888

A Book of Nonsense (1846) and other titles. Poet, author and artist who was born and lived in Bowman’s Lodge (now Bowman’s Mews) off Seven Sisters Road.

Levy, Andrea

1956 -2019

Small Island (2004) and other titles. The author was born and grew up in Twyford House, Elwood Street.

Maxwell, Kate

Hush (2018). The author, lives in Tufnell Park.

May, Peter

West Ham: Irons in the Soul (2002) and other titles. The writer, journalist and dedicated West Ham fan lives in north Islington.

Malakin, Dan

(1975-)

The Regret (2019) The thriller writer lives in Windsor Road.

Mill, John Stuart

1806-1873

On Liberty (1859) and other titles. The philosopher, political economist and liberal was born at 13 Rodney Street, off Pentonville Road, and then moved to Newington Green where he lived as a young boy. [NF]

Muchamore, Robert

1972-

CHERUB series (2004-). The author was born in Tufnell Park.

Quarmby, Katherine

Fussy Freya (2008) and other titles. The children's writer and journalist lives in north Islington.

Okri, Ben

(1959-)

The Famished Road (1991) and other titles. The Booker Prize winning author lived at 46 Loraine Road in the mid 1990s.

Sayers, Dorothy L.

1893-1957

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1928). Sayer’s fourth Lord Peter Wimsey novel features George Fentiman who lives in Finsbury Park.

Schillinger, Naomi

Veg Street: Grow Your Own Community (2013). The gardener, writer and photographer lives in Finsbury Park.

Seskis, Tina

1966-

One Step too Far (2013). Crime and thriller writer, who lives in Archway.