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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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]

Milton, John

1608-1674

Paradise Lost (1667), Paradise Regained (1671), Samson Agonistes (1671) and other titles. The poet moved to Bunhill Row in 1663 and lived there until his death. [P, SP]

Moodie, Susanna

1803-1885

Spartacus (1822) and other titles. The children’s author and abolition activist lived in Myddleton Square in 1832 before emigrating to Canada. [CYA, NF, P]

Muchamore, Robert

1972-

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

Neal, Daniel

1678-1743

History of the Puritans (Vols. I-IV) (1733-38) The historian is buried in Bunhill Fields.

Neustatter, Angela

1943-

he Lifestyle Entrepreneur: How to Turn Your Interests into Money (2015). Written with her son Cato Hoeben. Lived in Highbury Place and now in Cross Street.

North, Maria

Sibling Rhymery (2016). Lives near Highbury Corner.

Quarmby, Katherine

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

Parr, Katherine, Queen of England

1512-1548

Prayers and Meditations (1545), The Lamentation of a Sinner (1547). She lived with her husband Sir John Neville, Lord Latimer, in Charterhouse Yard before his death and her subsequent marriage to Henry VIII “because it stands in good air out of the press of the City.” [NF]

Pennant, Thomas

1726-1798

The British Zoology (1762) The Welsh naturalist wrote, what is considered to be, the first illustrated volume describing British native species. Proceeds from the publication was for the benefit of Welsh Orphanage in Clerkenwell (now the Marx Memorial Library).

Paillou, Peter

c1720–1790

The British Zoology (1762) The artist illustrated what is thought to be the first volume describing British native species, written by Thomas Pennant. He lived at 23 Paradise Place, now 533 Liverpool Road.

Pepys, Samuel

1633-1703

The Diary of Samuel Pepys (1664/65). Pepys wrote about “gadding about” Clerkenwell on Lord’s Day, Oct 2 1664 with his son, while his wife was ill at home.