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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Hughes, M.V. (Molly)

1866-1956

A London Family 1871-1900 (1946). The educator and writer grew up in Highbury New Park and mentioned it in her autobiographical work.

Hughes, Thomas

1822-1896

Tom Brown’s Schooldays (1857). Tom Brown stays at the Peacock Inn (a coaching inn located at the site of 11 Islington High Street) before he sets off for Rugby School.

Irving, Washington

1783-1859

Rip Van Winkle (1819), The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1820) and other titles. The essayist, biographer and historian lived in Canonbury Tower in the early 19th Century.

Jack, Ian

1945-

The Country Formerly Known as Great Britain (2009) and other titles. The journalist lived in Islington.

Jackson, Mike

Pride (2017) Jackson, contributor to the book and the movie ‘Pride’ was a squatter at 39 Lloyd Baker Street whilst he was Secretary of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners during the 1984/5 Miners’ Strike.

James, Clive

1939-

Falling Towards England (1985) and other titles. Lived in Tufnell Park in “a first floor horror of a room at the high end of Tufnell Park Road” in 1962.

Jarman, Derek

1942-1994

The artist, filmmaker, LGBT activist and writer lived at 60 Liverpool Road at the beginning of his career from 1967-69.

Jones, Nicolette

The Plimsoll Sensation (2007). Lives in Plimsoll Road.

Johnson, B.S.

1933-1973

Albert Angelo (1964). The author lived in Claremont Square.

James, M.R.

1862-1936

A Thin Ghost (1919). The short story, Two Doctors, is set in the fictitious ‘Dodds Hall’ in Islington

Johnson, Dr Samuel

1709-1784

Gentleman’s Magazine (1731-1922). Dr Johnson worked in a garret in St John’s Gate as translator and editor for the magazine from 1731-40s.

Jozefkowicz, Ewa

1987-

Mystery of the Colour Thief (2018). The children’s author lives in Highbury.