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.

 

Read more
  • A-Z view

Gaiman, Neil

1960-

Neverwhere (1996). In the story ‘Islington’ is a fallen angel who lives under London.

Gale, Theophilus

1628-1678

The Court of the Gentiles, or a Discourse Touching the Original of Human Nature (1677) The nonconformist teacher and author is buried in Bunhill Fields.

Gray, Simon

1936-2008

Otherwise Engaged (1975). The play is set in the living room of the Hench's house in Islington.

Grimes, Martha

1931-

Richard Jury series (1981-). Scotland Yard inspector, Richard Jury, lives in Islington.

Goldsmith, Oliver

1728-1774

The Good-Natur’d Man (1768), She Stoops to Conquer (1771) and other titles. The writer lived in Canonbury Tower from 1762-64.

Greenaway, Kate

1846-1901

Under the Window (1879) and other titles. The children’s book writer and illustrator lived at 147 Upper Street and 11 Pemberton Gardens.

Gissing, George

1857-1903

The Nether World (1889), New Grub Street (1891) and other titles. Gissing lived at 5 Hannover Square in 1879 (now 60 Noel Road) and some of his novels were set in Clerkenwell, specifically Clerkenwell Green.

Grossmith, George and Weedon

1847-1912 and 1854-1919

The Diary of a Nobody (1892). The Pooters live at The Laurels, Brickfield Terrace, Holloway, a fictional address which is reputed to be based on Pemberton Gardens.

Harvey, William

1796-1873

London Scenes & London People (1863). Doctor, Journalist and Superintendent of the Islington Reformatory. Died at 48 Lonsdale Square.

Hale, Lionel

1909-1977

These Two (1934). The critic, broadcaster and playwright lived at number 76 Noel Road.

Hamand, Maggie

Writer in residence at Holloway Prison 2000/1.

Hegley, John

1953-

Visions of the Bone Idol (1984) and other titles. The poet and musician, grew up in Beversbrook Road.