Literature Study: Charles Dickens

I've been wanting to make a deep dive study on the life of Charles Dickens for some time now and after recently completing two of his novels, I felt that time had come. I have long regarded Dickens as one of the greatest authors of all time, and included 7 of his novels in my list of 100 Greatest Works of Literature (more than any other author). To many English he is considered their 2nd greatest author behind only the great playwright Shakespeare. His vast collection of novels and iconic characters have become a great pride of English culture and literature. 

For me the recent inspiration into Victorian England hit a high this fall as I played the game Assassin's Creed Syndicate. At that point I decided to embark on the monster novel, David Copperfield which is said to be a semi-autobiography of Dickens' life. I then recently zipped thru the popular Christmas Carol, a short story that has been adapted more than any other novel. The work of Charles Dicken is the total embodiment of this industrial age in history. His many novels and short stories depict the industrial life of the working class during this period in history and reflect the life that he lived. He created so many memorable characters and included illustrations in his books that made his work all the more popular. 

I remember as a kid being familiar with the work and name of Charles Dickens, with fond memories of A Christmas Carol and the iconic characters of Scrooge, Cratchit, and Tiny Tim. I also remember watching an adaptation of his novel Oliver Twist. I can never forget that iconic scene where the young Oliver asks for a 2nd helping of soup. From these two stories alone I began to understand British culture thanks to these two settings. I remember in my college years becoming familiar with the story of Great Expectations and even more so his historical fiction, A Tale of Two Cities. His work often captures the perspective of an orphan, industrial laborer, rags-to-riches story, seeking solitude in the harsh climate of Industrial England. This common theme in Dicken's writings is what I seek to further understand by studying the biography of his life. 

The Life of Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was born in 1812 in the coastal city of Portsmouth to a middle class family. He was the 2nd of 8 children, his father was a clerk in the navy. As a young child Charles took a great liking to reading and some of his favorite books included Robinson Crusoe, Gil Blas, and the Arabian Nights. In 1822 however Charles life took a unique turn, when his dad was arrested for owing debt, and he and his family were relocated to the prison house of Marshalsea in London. Het met many memorable characters during this time, that would later go on to inspire many of his famous novels. 

At the age of 12 Charles was forced to work 10 hour days to help support his mother and family. He worked at a shoe polish factory basically placing labels on tin cans. These harsh working conditions, especially for children, would influence many of his novels as well as his involvement in social activism for child labor laws. After his father returned from prison, Charles finished his labor years and was enrolled in the boarding school Wellington House Academy in Camden Town. The headmaster there was extremely cruel and made for another terrible experience for the young Charles. After school he worked briefly as a junior clerk in a law office. All these experiences of his youth are fictionally portrayed in his auto-biographical work of David Copperfield. 

By the age of 20, having experienced a very unique and challenging childhood Charles Dickens was a very confident and ambitious young man. He first set his eyes on a career in theater acting, yet after various failed opportunities he shifted his interest to writing. By 1833 he began submitting his first writings to the London Monthly Magazine and later find work as a journalist. During this time Charles also established a solid network of other writers and influential public figures in London. This exposure and support helped him publish his first major novel, The Pickwick Papers in 1836. He later became the editor of the magazine Bentley's Miscellany for three years. During this time he wrote his 2nd novel and one of his most famous works of Oliver Twist, which was published in 1838.

Charles married Catherine Thomas Hogarth in 1836 and together they had ten children throughout their 20 marriage. They were however later separated in 1858 most likely due to Charles' various love affairs. Nonetheless Charles continued to rise to prominence as an author and by the 1840s his two most popular works of Oliver Twist and the Pickwick Papers were read by Queen Victoria herself. In 1842 had an inspirital visit to the United States, spoke out against slavery, and was inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe and Washington Irving. This visit helped inspire him to write a series of Christmas stories, including his most famous work of A Christmas Carol published in 1842. This popular book  reinvigorated the festive season of Christmas. 

In the mid 1840s David continued to travel more and lived in Italy, Switzerland, and France for some time. He was very fond of French culture and befriended famous Parisian writers of the time including Alexander Dumas and Victor Hugo. During this phase of his career his work began to demonstrate more dramatic themes in his publications of Dombey and Son as well as his famous semi auto-biography of David Copperfield that was published in 1850. In 1851 her returned to live in London and published the famous novels of Bleak House, Hard Times, and Little Dorrit. He also became the managing editor of various journals including All the Year Round. 

In the late 1850s he began to have marital problems with his wife Catherine and engaged in various affairs including one with the 18 year old actress Ellen Ternan. Following his divorce from his wife in 1858 he went on various reading tours throughout the United Kingdom and finished his famous novels of A Tale of Two Cities in 1859 and Great Expectations in 1861. In his final years he survived the Staplehurt Rail Crash of 1865 and made a 2nd visit to America in 1867 meeting with the famed authors Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. As his health began to deteriorate in 1868 he gave a series of farwell readings across the United Kingdom. In 1870 he died of a stroke at the young age of 58.   

The Works of Charles Dickens

• The Pickwick Papers (1837) 
• This was Dicken's first novel that brought him instant fame as an acclaimed author. It is a satirical novel of a gentlemen's club in London known as the Pickwick club. Their founder Samuel Pickwick encourages the other three members to go on unusual adventures outside of London and share them with the club. The story recounts each of their comedic tales as they journey throughout the countryside of England. 
• Oliver Twist (1839)
  
• Dicken's second novel that cemented his arrival as England's most popular author. This is one of many orphan based novels that Dicken's wrote demonstrating his common theme of rags-to-riches story. Oliver Twist is an orphan living thru the harsh conditions of industrial London, and later joins a gang of pickpockets, led by the iconic hobo Fagan and his skilled pickpocket the Artful Dodger. He later is adopted by a well-to-do family and lives a much better life than in the streets of London. This is one of Dicken's most adapted story next to A Christmas Carol, and have fond memories of watching the 1968 musical Oliver!
• Nicholas Nickelby (1839)
• One that I am not so familiar with, however it follows the common Copperfield format of a young working child. Just like with David Copperfield, Nicholas experiences various hardships throughout his youth including the death of his father. He must then work to support his mother and sister. He experiences many adventures and meets many unique characters throughout the story. 
• A Christmas Carol (1843)
• This is Dicken's most well known story and also one of his shortest. It tells the Christmas tale of Ebenezer Scrooge who is known as a cruel man who detests the Christmas season. He is however visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve that make him aware of his terrible attitude. The next morning on Christmas Day, Scrooge sets out to fix his wicked ways and gives money to charity, rewards his employee Bob Cratchitt, and visits his nephew. This novel completely reinvigorated the holiday Christmas season. 
• Dombey and Son (1848)
  
• The book is a homage to the coastal life Hickens experienced in his youth and pertains to the relationship between a father, daughter, and son. The father Paul Dombey is the owner of a prosperous shipyard and hopes his son will take over the family business. His son is however very weak and sick, and instead Mr. Dombey must turn to his daughter to become his heir. The relationship with his daughter is a complicated one, but eventually they find peace before Mr. Dombey dies. 
• David Copperfield (1850)
• This is considered one of Charles Dicken's masterpieces, and also his most personal as the story is considered a semi auto-biography of his life. It once again pertains to a young child enduring hardships in the city of London and the many unique characters he meets along the way. Throughout his struggles, David eventually finds love and happiness multiple times thanks to his unending positive attitude. The story reflects the child hardships that the young Charles Dickens went thru when his father was arrested, also the cruel boarding school he went to, his brief stint as a law clerk, and finally his true passion for writing. 
• Bleak House (1853)
  
• This novel is a satirical comedy of a legal case known as the Jarndyce and Jarndyce case. The story is yet again narrated from the perspective of an orphan, her name being Esther Summerson. She works as the governess for the wealthy Jarndyce who are undergoing a legal inheritance dispute. The book was so popular during the Victorian Age, that it later led to a legal reform in the 1870s to how judicial court matters were conducted.  
• Hard Times (1854)
• One of Dicken's shortest novels it was written to demonstrate the cruel harsh working conditions of industrial England. It is set in a fictitious town of Coketown that is quite reminiscent of industrial Manchester. Mr. Gradgrind is a cold business man, a fierce advocate of Utilitarianism, he is driven by efficiency and profitability and gives no mind to imagination. He comes to odds with his children however for their youthful desire for romance, creativity, and individuality. 
• Little Dorritt (1857)
  
• This story is set in the Marshalsea prison and no doubt a reference to the time Charles Dickens spent there as a child when his father was arrested by creditors. It demonstrates the harsh conditions of the prison, and criticizes the governments' Treasury and industrial working conditions. Amy Dorritt is the sweet daughter of Mr. William, who after 30 years has become considered the father of the Marshalsea Prison. Amy works as a seamstress and befriends Arthur Clenman who later helps free the family from prison. Years later Arthur becomes a wealthy debtor and after discovering that he was adopted chooses to marry the poor Amy Dorritt.     
• A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
• Regarded as Dicken's greatest historical fiction, it is set during the French Revolution and demonstrates a more dramatic and serious tone. The book is broken up into 3 parts and just like Victor Hugo's Les Miserables it also spans many years. The first book consists of an English doctor reunited with his daughter Lucie after 18 years of imprisonment in the Bastille. Years later Lucie falls for a French aristocrat named Charles Darney and marries him and the two relocate to Paris. However Paris is in the midst of the Reign of Terror and Charles is charged for his wealthy injustice. He is however saved from the guillotine by a depressed lawyer named Sydney Carton, who also loves Lucie. Sydney bears a very similar resemblance to Charles and is able to fool the guards and trade his life to free Charles so the woman he loves can be happy. This is an extremely tragic ending, yet also equally poetic and romantic and part of the reason it is considered among Dicken's greatest works.  
• Great Expectations (1861)
  
• Yet another classic from Charles Dickens that pertains to the setting of an orphan rags-to-riches story. As a young child, Pip encounters a convict and decides to help him before he is captured by the police. Years later Pip becomes a labor worker and falls for the wealthy Estella yet does not have the means to marry her. He is however taken on by a benefactor and trained to become a gentlemen and later woos Estella for a brief period. This is until he discovers his benefactor was the criminal he helped and Pip fears he is in trouble for accepting his financial funds. Pip decides to escape England, leave Estella, and finds work in Egypt as a merchant. Years later he reunites with Estella and the two appear to commit to their lost love. 
• Our Mutual Friend (1865)
• Dicken's last novel often considered his most sophisticated and complex. It demonstrates the perils of wealth, when a poor clerk takes on the identity of a deceased wealthy nobleman. The inheritance in question is that of a profitable dust heap business, by which Dickens demonstrates the irony of wealth thru waste. The story is full of subplots and symbolism which is why it is often considered one of Dicken's most complex works. 

Book Review: A Christmas Carol

The classic Christmas story known as A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens has been a staple of the holiday season for over 150 years now. It's a story I have been familiar with since my childhood years. Ebenezer Scrooge has become the iconic Christmas character, a grumpy grouch on par with other Christmas anti-heroes such as the Grinch. Other famous characters from the book include Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and the three ghosts of Christmas. This book can undoubtedly be celebrated as establishing many of the Christmas customs we celebrate today.

While I have been familiar with the story thru countless television and film adaptations, I have never read the novel until now. It seemed like a fitting follow up for this holiday season after reading the behemoth 800 pager David Copperfield. To my surprise the novel is quite brief with just nearly 100 pages and 5 chapters (known as staves). In this post I'll give a detailed description of Dicken's iconic Christmas novel.

The Premise

The story is sent in London 1840s on Christmas Eve where Ebenezer Scrooge is presented in his banking office with his underpaid clerk Bob Cratchit. He cruelly rejects some charity workers asking for a Christmas donation, as well as his nephew's invitation to his Christmas Party. That evening however he is visited by the ghost of Marley, his former business partner who shared his cold business demeanor. Marley informs Scrooge that he will be visited by three ghosts and that he should listen to them, if he doesn't want to end up in chains like he did.

The first ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge his past life as a lonely child in a boarding school. He did however have a good relationship with his sister Fan and was later treated like a son by his first employer Mr. Fezziwig. However as an apprentice of finance, Scrooge did not inherit Mr. Fezziwig's generous demeanor. This became clear when his finance Belle, left him because she realized that Scrooge loved more than her. Scrooge's finance was later showing living happy with a husband and family at which Scrooge requested to see no more in the painful vision from his past.

The second ghost of Christmas Present was perhaps the most iconic of the three ghosts. He was a large bearded fellow wearing a great green fur robe. He first demonstrated Scrooge the scene at his employee Cratchit's house. Despite their meager house the Cratchit family was a merry bunch and very grateful to celebrate Christmas Eve. At the end of the dinner Bob Cratchit offers a toast to his employer which is disputed but later shared by the rest of the family. Scrooge also takes notice of the sickly young child of Tiny Tim and fears that he will die without proper medical treatment. The Ghost of Christmas Present also shows Scrooge his nephew's party who just as Bob did, offers his uncle a toast showing sympathy for Scrooge's cold lonely life.

The third ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is the most frightening of the three taking the form of a deathly phantom or the Grim Reaper. He shows Scrooge visions into the future if he does not change his selfish ways, including his funeral which nobody cares to attend. Furthermore he sadly witnesses the Cratchit family grieving over the death of their young son Tiny Tim. At this point Scrooge promises to change his ways and is most grateful the visions are over. On Christmas day he falls into a jubilant stupor and buys the Cratchit family an expensive turkey, he gives a large donation to charity, and he visits his nephew.  The next day he informs Cratchit that he will raise his salary, and is a changed man devout to kindness and compassion. The book closes with the iconic grateful words of Tiny Tim, "God Bless us All, Each and everyone of us."

The Analysis

The legacy of this book is worldwide, often considered the essence of the Christmas season on par with The Nativity Story or The Night Before Christmas. Charles Dickens captured the spirit of Christmas in this book and presented so many Christmas customs that have become very popular today. For example the popular phrase of "Merry Christmas" was influenced from this book. The character of Ebenezer Scrooge has also became a very iconic figure of the holiday season with his famous catch phrase of "Bah-Humbug".

This was one of several Christmas books written by Charles Dickens to celebrate his love of the season. This was a concept he was first influenced by Washington Irving as a kid in the 1820s. Dicken's publication of A Christmas Carol in 1843 became an instant hit. It was actually one of several of popular Christmas novels he wrote also including; The Chimes and The Cricket and Hearth (which I intend to read next). While this book can hardly be considered a literature masterpiece, it is mostly celebrated for it's holiday theme and powerful message.

For me the greatest theme of Dicken's story is to be grateful for what you have. Scrooge is naturally a cruel selfish man without any enthusiasm in the world, which is especially clear during the festive season of Christmas. However after some ghostly visions he realizes he has had a terrible attitude for most his professional life, and seeks to change it immediately. His transformation to celebrate the Christmas season as the end of the book, demonstrates the powerful and positive magic of the Christmas Season. 

Book Review: David Copperfield

The past couple months I have taken on the behemoth Charles Dicken's novel, David Copperfield (an 800 page monster). This is probably one of the longest, most challenging books I have read aside from Les Miserables or War and Peace. I read this book in association with the game I was playing, AC Syndicate which takes place during Industrial England in the 1850s. This book entirely gave me the insight I was seeking into industrial British life in those days, most especially from the perspective of a young working class orphan. Charles Dickens is considered one of the greatest authors of all time, and this book is regarded as his semi-autobiographical masterpiece.

I am quite familiar with the work of Charles Dickens, yet have not fully immersed myself into one of his books until I read David Copperfield. Perhaps his greatest claim to fame is his iconic Christmas Carol (which I am now reading) about Ebenezer Scrooge. This book has been adapted into so many films and has become a staple of the holiday season. Another story of his that I have always been familiar with is that of Oliver Twist, the young orphan who had the nerve to request a 2nd serving of soup. Although I am still very early in my Charles Dickens understanding I would say the work of Oliver Twist and David Copperfield demonstrate his common theme of the industrial working class. 

However another book of Dickens that I have always been very fascinated by was A Tale of Two Cities. I own this book and this was the first novel of his I attempted to read, but honestly only made it a few chapters in. The historical premise was what especially captured my interest set during the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. In this novel Dickens demonstrated a very dark element of romanticism, with a love triangle that ends in complete sacrifice by the character Sydney Carton. While I am familiar with the story I would like to give the novel another proper reading attempt someday (If I can comprehend David Copperfield, I should be able to comprehend any of Dickens' works). 

However now I re-divert to the book at hand which I will give my usual review. This will include a break down of the premise, and analysis of the main characters, and an analysis of this particular work by Charles Dickens. Eventually I would also like to make a more in-depth study of the life and works of Charles Dickens, but for now I want to focus on this novel. David Copperfield is often regarded as one of the greatest novels of all time and has absolutely nothing to do with the modern day magician who simply stole the name. This classic book by Dicken's is essentially a biography of a young boys life growing up into adulthood in England. 

The Premise

The story begins as a narration of an older man recounting his youth, which happens to be David Copperfield. He is born in the coastal region of Suffolk, England without a father who dies a few months before his birth. Little David however grows up happily for some years with his loving mother and their housekeeper Ms. Peggoty. However everything changes for young David when his mother remarries to the cruel Edward Murdstone, who insists upon teaching the young boy discipline. Murdstone eventually decides to send David to boarding school after David bites his finger, much to the dismay of his mother. 

Before David goes off to boarding school, he spends a few days with Ms. Peggoty's family along the beach in Yarmouth. Here he meets the fisherman Mr. Peggoty and his adopted children Ham and Emily. David falls in love with the the young Emily, and writes to her frequently when he goes off to school. At the Salem House boarding school, David's misery continues under the cruel direction of Mr. Creakle. He does however befriend a couple students including Tommy Traddles and the older charismatic James Steerforth. 

For the holidays David returns home and spends some good quality time with his mother and Ms. Peggoty. He also discovers he has a new baby brother which he instantly becomes fond of, however as he leaves for school on carriage he gets a strange feeling when seeing his mother wave goodbye to him with the baby. Few weeks later while at school, David tragically discovers his mother and baby bother have died from sickness. David instantly becomes an orphan, and Mr. Murdstone refuses to keep paying his boarding school dues. Ms. Peggoty marries the willing carriage driver, while the young David is sent to work in a wine factory in London. He boards and befriends with the Micawber family.  

After several months of the miserable lifestyle, David decides to run away and seek out his aunt Betsey Trotwood. His aunt despises boys, however she eventually agrees to adopt the child with the support of her mentally challenged friend, Mr. Dick. She sends David to a better school run by Dr. Strong, where David comes under the apprenticeship of a lawyer named Mr. Wickfield as well as new associations with Mr. Wickfield's daughter Agnes and his slimy clerk Uriah Heep. After he finishes school David finds employment as a proctor for the lawyer Mr. Spenlow. During this time he falls mad in love with his boss's daughter Dora. 

David is eventually able to propose and marry Dora, who is as beautiful as she is childish. Their marriage brings him great happiness for some time however, despite their youthful domestic inexperience. David's situation worsens however when his aunt is bankrupted by the fraudulent activities of Uriah Heep. Furthermore he loses his friends Ham and Steerforth who both die among a shipwreck in the waters. To make matters even worse, it is later revealed that his wife dies of a miscarriage and David enters a hard period of grief. 

For three years David travels, works, yet commits to his real passion of writing. He is eventually able to publish a book with the help of his schoolmate Traddles and returns home. He aids in exposing Uriah Heep of his criminal activities which helps restore his aunt's finances. Furthermore he supports Mr. Peggoty and the Micawber's emigration to Australia to seek out a new life. He later reunites with his friend Agnes and reveals to her that he loves her, and she reciprocates the feelings. They later marry and have children together, of which the narrator reveals as a happy ending to his story. 

The Characters

David Copperfield: The protagonist of the story who endures a difficult youth with great optimism and passion. After losing his father and later his mother, David must take on the industrial age of London mostly on his own. He meets many friends along the way, and eventually finds a benefactor thru the support of his aunt. He also experiences various love affairs throughout the book with Emily, Dora, and eventually Agnes.  

Clara Copperfield: The naïve mother of David, who cares deeply for him yet lacks the strength to raise him on her own. She later remarries the cruel Mr. Murdstone, who sends her son away to boarding school. Despite her affectionate care for her child, she dies of illness early in the book, leaving David an orphan.  

Ms. Peggoty: She is the housekeeper and caretaker of the young Davey, whom cares for him and his mother dearly. After Mrs. Copperfield dies she marries the willing carriage driver Mr. Barkis yet continues to corresponded and check on David. 

Mr. Edward Murdstone: He is the cruel 2nd husband of Clara Copperfield who is intent on disciplining the young David. He even brings in the support of his equally wicked sister, Jane to help enforce their systematic structure. After David bites Mr. Murdstone he sends him to boarding school. After Clara dies, he disowns the young David, and willingly lets Betsey Trotwood take over responsibility. 

Betsey Trotwood: She becomes the benefactor of the young David who runs away to her in search of a better life. The spinster aunt despises young boys and disowns him at his birth, however upon seeing him in shambles grows a new sympathy for him. She chooses to raise him and support his endeavors. David later returns the favor by caring for her after she loses all her fortune due to Uriah Heep's fraudulence. 

Mr. Peggoty: He is the brother of Ms. Peggoty, and is a fisherman who lives by the sea. He lives with an unusual company, including the widow of a fellow fisherman named Mrs. Grummidge, who is always crying about her deceased husband. There is also his two adopted children Ham and Emily. 

Ham: He becomes a strong boat builder and grows affection for Emily, however is devastated when she chooses Steerforth. He later dies in a heroic attempt to salvage a ship wreckage in Yarmouth. 

Emily: She is the pretty adopted child of Mr. Peggoty whom becomes David's first childhood sweetheart. She however chooses Steerforth over Ham, who in turn breaks her heart and she runs away. After the death of both Ham and Steerforth she emigrates to Australia with Mr. Peggoty.  

James Steerforth: He is the elder popular student at Salem House Boarding School, which David befriends early on. He is wealthy and smooth talking however later proves to be a scoundrel when he seduces and abandons Emily. He later dies on board the ship that wrecks in Yarmouth. 

Tommy Traddles: He is the loyal schoolmate of David, who proves to be his best friend throughout the entire book. What he lacks for in charisma he makes up for in intelligence and finds a prosperous career in law practice. He helps expose Uriah Heep of his fraudulence and later marries Sophy. 

Wilkins Micawber: A good-hearted working-class man from London who provides David room-and-board during his working stint. He has a loyal wife with several children, yet they are always facing financial struggles. He later finds work under Uriah Heep, but becomes the victim of Uriah's wicked schemes. Mr. Micawber is however later able to expose the wicked financier and have him arrested for fraud. Mr. Micawber later relocates to Australia with his family and prospers as a magistrate.  

Mr. Dick: He is the mentally challenged partner of aunt Betsy Trotwood, who often provides her counsel. Although he is not employed he is a passionate writer obsessed with kites and the historical character of King Charles.  

Mr. Wickfield: He is the lawyer of Betsy Trotwood who offers David room-and-board during his teenage school years. During this team he befriends Mr. Wickfield's daughter Agnes, yet also becomes suspicious of Mr. Wickfield's apprentice Uriah Heep. Uriah is able to manipulate Mr. Wickfield into alcoholism and eventually take over his fortune. 

Agnes Wickfield: She is the kind-hearted daughter of Mr. Wickfield who develops a sisterly affection for David. This however sprouts into a true love at the end of the novel, when David equally expresses his affection for her. She later marries David and they have several children and live happily together. 

Uriah Heep: He is the antagonist of the story who claims to be humble yet becomes the scheming arch-nemesis of David. He takes over Mr. Wickfield's fortune thru manipulation and causes other financial ruin for Betsy Trotwood and Mr. Micawber. He also intends to marry Agnes, until his fraudulence is exposes and he is arrested. 

Dora Spenlow: She is the daughter of Francis Spenlow, David's first employer who offers him work as a proctor. David is mesmerized by her beauty at first site and passionately proposes to her of which she reluctantly accepts. She is very child-like, somewhat reminiscent of David's mother, and always is accompanied by her dog Jip. Together they share several happy years with various domestic arguments. She dies however at a young age after a miscarriage which causes great grief for David.  

The Analysis

This was by far the most difficult book I've read this year however I tackled it with great discipline. The older English verbiage and it's length made this one very intimidating however I patiently endured thru it. I can honestly can say I comprehended it quite well compared to my other efforts at classic European literature such as (Tale of Two Cities, Les Miserables, and War and Peace). The story lacks the typical dramatic arch, and is more so a biographical journey of a young man's life and the many interesting characters he meets along the way. 

I would say this is ultimately a character piece by which Dickens creates many distinct and iconic characters in this novel. The protagonist of David Copperfield is no doubt a representation of Charles' life as a young industrial worker who later developed a keen passion for writing. Despite his harsh upbringing with a cruel step-father, cruel school-master, becoming an orphan, working in a factory as a child, and losing his wife David endures every difficult with great optimism. While his character is somewhat boring, his resolve is truly heroic and this is especially accentuated by every character he meets and helps along the way.

For me this was a very unique book, unlike anything I've read before, that takes the reader on a journey thru a man's life spanning some 20 years. Ultimately I would not consider this book as good as other classics I have recently read such as Scarlett Letter or Uncle Tom's Cabin. However Dickens still succeeds in creating an original setting with original characters. David Copperfield is a character you want to root for, having witnessed the hardships he endured as a child. His tale is one of heroic perseverance in the face of the common day hardships of industrial England. 

Historical Study: The Final Years of the Romanov Dynasty

So after a week of playing AC: Russia (one of the hardest AC games I've played yet) I am once again inspired by the Russian Revolution. This historical event in 1917 marked the downfall of the Romanov Dynasty under Czar Nicholas II and the establishment of Communist Russia under the Bolsheviks leaders Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky. I was first inspired by this topic after watching two of my all time favorite films Reds and Doctor Zhivago. I suppose in those days I was far more left leaning and perhaps a bit more sympathetic towards the Communist cause. However after playing AC Russia I am beginning to see the event in a broader light pertaining to the injustice committed by both the Czarists and the Bolsheviks . 

What makes a historical revolution so interesting is that there are many aspects and defining figures to it. I suppose the perspective often depends on where your political allegiance lies, conservative or progressive. I for one have always favored the progression of humanity and often consider revolutions as a romantic liberation by the people from an unjust tyrant. Consider the American Revolution or the French Revolution, two major historical events by which the people overthrew their monarchies. This didn't pan out so well for the French, however the Americans were able to establish the defining model of democracy from this change in government. 

So naturally, as a man of the people, I originally favored the Bolsheviks when I first read about the Russian Revolution of 1917. I considered the ideals of this movement to be purely righteous, where the working class was uniting to overthrow an unfair and ineffective monarchy. And the movement was certainty within reason to call for change after falling behind to Japan by 1905. By this point Imperial Russia was quickly losing traction in the modern industrial world, and just as was happening in China, modernization and revolution was eminent. 

The revolutionary fervor really began to heat up after losing the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. This lead to the Russian Revolution of 1905 and the infamous massacre of Bloody Sunday on January 22nd. The massacre of over 200 demonstrators calling for a constitutional government became the turning point for the Czar's approval. This anti-monarchy fervor reached an even greater temperature at the onset of WWI in 1914. By this point Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin had their communist revolution well under way and it did not take much for the imperial dominoes to fall. The monarchy was eventually toppled in the February Revolution of 1917 by an interim government that was quickly replaced by the Bolsheviks in the October Revolution of 1917. From this point on Russia became known as the Soviet Union, and after WWII they had become a superpower next to America until the 1990s. 

However in this post I want to divert away from the Communist Revolution that I have written about various times (see Russian Revolution, Russian Culture). Instead I want to look at the event from the opposite perspective; the imperial family of the Romanovs. I don't by any means think the abdication was unjust, rather a necessary event in accordance with the rest of the world's transition from monarchy to constitutional governments. However just as I wrote about the fall of the Bourbon Dynasty (Finals Years of Marie Antoinette), I want to highlight some of the cruel injustice enforced in this event, particularly the unnecessary execution of the Romanov children. There are some very interesting aspects to the fall of the Romanov Dynasty considering key characters such as Nicholas II, Alexandra, Rasputin, and Anastasia. 

Brief History of the Romanov Dynasty

When I think of Imperial Russia there are really three monarchs for me that stand out above the rest. First there was Peter the Great who transformed the Tsardom of Russia into Imperial Russia in 1721. It was he, who brought Russia to the forefront of European power, by modernizing the cities and it's military. Thru the ideals of the western enlightenment he established a better system of government and infrastructure. His victory at the Great Northern War over the Scandinavian regions, established Imperial Russia as a new power in Europe.

The next great monarch I associate with Imperial Russia is Catherine the Great, who ruled over Russia for 30 years from 1762 to 1796. She demonstrated female authority by defeating the Ottoman Empire and furthering Russia's imperial territory throughout Europe and Asia. However by the 1850s during the Industrial Age, Imperial Russia began to fall behind the western powers of England, France, and the rising Germany. This decline was made most apparent at their defeat in the Crimean War in 1856 which marked a turning point for Imperial Russia.

In 1894 Czar Nicholas II ascended to the throne and was committed to sustaining imperial authority that his father established. He was concerned by the rising threat of Imperial Germany and established an alliance with France to help contain them. However to his east was another rising industrial power in the Empire of Japan. Things took a sharp downward turn for Nicholas II after Russia's defeat to Japan in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. From this point on the revolutionary fervor began to take center stage and the Nicholas was approaching his endgame. 

The Influence of Rasputin

Quite coincidentally during this downward turn for Imperial Russia, the mysterious Grigori Rasputin arose to influence. His story is no doubt one of great intrigue portrayed in many books and movies. I first came to understand his portrayal as the villainous sorcerer in the animated film, Anastasia. Of course this was no doubt a fabrication of his character, however he was still factually engaged in mystical and spiritual practices. He eventually amassed a cult following by the early 1900s that brought him great recognition and fame throughout Russia. 

Despite his peasant upbringing, Rasputin no doubt had an influence over the wealthy and his spiritual practice began welcomed by many of the elite throughout Moscow and St. Petersburg. In 1905 he first met the Tsar Nicholas II and found great favor with his wife Alexandra. From that point on the Romanov family felt he processed a spiritual power that could heal their sick son, Alexei (who indeed was mysteriously healed by 1912). It was also speculated around this time that Rasputin, who was known for his sexual promiscuity, was having an affair with the empress Alexandra.  

As Rasputin's influence over the Romanov family continued to grow, there were many within the Russian Orthodox church he felt he was a heretic. By 1909 his sexual controversary began to unravel with accusations of rape, which many felt were a danger to the royal family. At the onset of WWI, many right wing political members felt Rasputin had completely compromised the falling dynasty and blamed him for all of Russia's problems. In 1916 several prominent aristocrats such as Felix Yusupov, Dmitri Pavlovich, and Vladimir Purishkevich had Rasputin assassinated. However even despite his death, the fall of the Romanov Dynasty was well underway due to the unpopular involvement in WWI.

The Abdication, Imprisonment, and Execution

The film Doctor Zhivago makes it quite clear that it was World War I that was the final domino for the revolution. Hundreds-of-thousands of Russian peasants were put on the frontline and slaughtered by the superior German machinery. This devastating toll of Russian lives demonstrated Russia's inferiority in an industrial world and furthermore the loss-of-confidence in the Czar. By February of 1917 things finally reached a breaking point in Russia due to a brutal winter, a famine, and the death toll of WWI. The imperial army quickly sided with the revolutionary fervor and an in effort to restore order Nicholas II abdicated his throne on March 2nd, 1917. A provisional government was thus put in place, and after it's glorious 300 year reign the Romanov Dynasty had come to an end. 

Now here's where things get really interesting, and almost mirror the final months of the Bourbon Dynasty during the French Revolution. The imperial family had various chances to escape the growing tension and live a life in exile, however they were somewhat delusional of the severity at hand. After all Nicholas did have powerful allies in his cousins King George V of England and Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany. However he stubbornly refused to give in to panic a decision that would ultimately cause his family's demise. On March 20th of 1917 his family was put under house arrest by the provisional government. 

During this time in the spring and summer of 1917, despite heightened surveillance, the royal family was still well protected by the provisional government. Nicholas and his wife Alexandra insisted upon remaining calm and ignorant of the ongoing political events in Moscow. They lived a secluded life in the countryside mansion in Tobolsk, enjoying the forest and partaking in leisure activity. Even after the Bolsheviks seized power during the October Revolution, Nicholas still shrugged off escape plans and did not feel threatened by Vladimir Lenin. Things however began to turn by the winter of 1917-1918, when their royal funds were heavily reduced. 

By March of 1918 their window at escape quickly had begun to close as the Bolshevik Red Army heightened security measures on the royal family. This was in reaction to the growing threat of anti-revolutionaries forces such as the White Army who were more sympathetic towards restoring the monarchy. On April 30th the Romanov family was relocated to the much smaller Ipateiv House in Yekaterinburg under heavy surveillance. The situation grew more dire for the Romanov's in May, when the Czechoslovak white army was approaching the city of Moscow. At this point Leon Trotsky and Vladimir Lenin felt the monarchy was too dangerous to be left alive. 

On July 17th the chief guard of the Ipateiv House, Yakov Yurovsky received his orders to execute the family. This was then carried out late at night by a firing squad in the basement. Tsar Nicholas was the first to be shot and murdered, and was then followed by the death of his wife and children; Olga, Anastasia, Tatiana, Maria, and Alexi. The daughters were wearing so much jewelry that it took numerous shots and eventual bayonet stabbings to kill them. Their bodies were then buried in the forest, and the shocking news was delivered to all of Russia. The Bolshevik reasoning for the execution was that the Czar was planning to escape and aid the counter revolutionaries. The execution of these young innocent children demonstrate the wickedness of the Red Army. 

The Legend of Anastasia

One final point of interest in regards to the execution of the Romanov Dynasty is this urban legend of the grand duchess Anastasia. The general folktale during the Soviet Era was that since her body was never discovered she somehow escaped the execution. This lead to multiple impersonators claiming to be the princess, most famously Anna Anderson. While the impersonators never had full proof, their royal claims became fodder for the media and literature. To this day, this is a very popular story that became celebrated in the iconic animated musical Anastasia. It was also the premise of the game I just played, Assassin's Creed: Russia which is the reason for this interest. 

While I find the story to be quite intriguing and romantic, it seems like the stuff of a Disney fairytale. A lost girl who happens to be a princess. There can be no way she managed to escape the basement of slaughter that the rest of her family suffered. Furthermore there was DNA proof in the 1990s that she was indeed executed on that most unfortunate day in 1918. While it makes for yet another great example of classic and iconic Russian literature, it is ultimately a falsehood. The grand duchess Anastasia, alongside her family, was sadly executed on the fateful day. It was not until many years later in the 1980s that the Bolshevik cruelty was recognized and the legacy of the Romanov family was restored as martyred saints.

Game Review: Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia

The past week I took on the final game of the Assassin's Creed Chronicles series, AC: Russia. Let me just say right off hand that this side-scrolling game was probably the hardest one I've played yet. Just like AC: India, it required speed and perfection without having the ability to fight your way out of things. The setting and backdrop however was very impressive, set during the Russian Revolution of 1917-1918. This is of course a historical topic that has always fascinated me and I have written various times about here in this blog. This game gave me yet another perspective on the fall of the Romanov dynasty, of which I will later do further research into.

The main assassin in this game is Nikolai Orelov who desires to leave Russia after the October Revolution of 1917. He is however tasked by the brotherhood with one final mission to steal an artifact from the templars. During Orelov's mission he witnesses the execution of Czar Nicholas II and his family which troubles him deeply. He does however manage to rescue the grand duchess Anastasia which further complicates his mission. In choosing to rescue her, he becomes an enemy of the Bolsheviks, the Templars, and even his own Assassin brotherhood. 

The gameplay is structured with the 2.5D side-scrolling format as with all AC Chronicle games. This provides mostly linear/up-and-down movement with a bit of depth. Just like Arbaaz from AC India, Orelov cannot fight his way out of situations (it seemed this was not the case for Shao Jun in AC China, who was very stealthy yet equally affective in combat). That makes AC Russia, all the more difficult when being detected by an enemy most often results in instant desynchronization. I found just about every stage in this game to be very challenging, especially the last couple sequences which eventually cost me a controller due to frustration (it was due for an upgrade anyway). 

Orelov has a unique arsenal of weaponry, and I would consider him more of a gunman than the typical blade yielding assassin. His weapons include a rifle, smoke bombs, and a mechanical winch he uses to pull things or deactivate electrical outlets. I suppose a part of this unique AC weaponry is due to the time period of this game, where guns and machinery have became the norm. This setting in 1918 Russia is the most modern setting of all AC games and concludes my chronological order of playing the games, which I embarked on about a year ago at this time.  

Another interesting aspect of this game is playing as the character of Anastasia in several of the later sequences. For some peculiar reason she has suddenly become possessed by the assassin skills of Shao Jun and in her escape she also becomes a deadly assassin. While she does not posses the weaponry that Orelov has, she later acquires magical "Helix" skills such as disappearing and making her enemies disappear. Most of her missions require escape and she is aided simultaneously by Orelov. The game brings back the sniper element introduced in AC India, where Orelov must do quick long range shooting to secure an area. This was most difficult at the final sequence fighting against the tank. 

While the game was extremely difficult and frustrating it succeeded in inspiring my historical appetite. The Russian Revolution has been one of my favorite historical topics since I first watched the film, Reds and Doctor Zhivago back in 2008. Those films pertained more to the Communist Bolshevik uprising and overlooked the cruelty of the Romanov execution. The animated movie Anastasia however is more on par with this game that turns the Bolsheviks into the enemies rather than the liberators. This is of course a political opinion however the execution of young children is most disturbing no matter the reasoning. As for the case of Anastasia presented in this game, I feel that her escape is mostly an urban legend. She was most likely executed with her parents and siblings, however I will dive further into this intriguing topic in my next post. 

Game Review: Assassin's Creed Syndicate

The past month now I have returned to British culture, with a specific focus on the Industrial Age of the 19th century. This is much thanks to my full emersion into the video game, Assassin's Creed Syndicate. The game takes place in London 1860s, with a very detailed map of the industrial city and it's many iconic landmarks. The storyline also intercedes with many famous historical figures of the age, which I will get into later. As per usual I have taken on this historical time period thru multiple fronts such as in books and TV, in conjunction with my gaming experience. I've been currently reading Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield" which is a complete embodiment of the industrial age of London portrayed in this game. I also consider the Sherlock Holmes movies and TV series to give a proper visual of this setting. 

The Setting

The game setting is quite similar to Assassin's Creed: Unity (set in Paris) in which the game is entirely an urban experience. This is a break from the frontier and water settings in ACIII, AC IV, and AC Rouge. I enjoy both experiences (the urban and frontier settings) and can understand why this game didn't have any frontier settings after seeing the enormous map of London. There was also however a minor water element to this game thru the River Thames that ran thru the city. While the assassin's could operate a boat, they still could swim and steal cargo on moving ships if need-be. 

The two main characters of this game were brother-and-sister, Jacob and Evie Frie. I enjoyed both characters, more-so Evie, and really enjoyed the option to choose which character to play as. There were also several missions in the game that could only be played with one or the other, which I thought was a fair way to include both in the story. The character of Evie, had a strong and sexy style to her, that reminded me somewhat of Kate Beckinsale in the movies Underworld (same Gothic style without the vampires). I played most the game with Evie and would say she is probably my favorite female assassin in the series, right along with Shao Jin. 

Just as with most Assassin's Creed games, I am always mesmerized by the historical cities and the free reign ability to roam and climb the architectural wonders. In this setting of 1860s London the two big landmarks that impressed me were that of Saint Paul's Cathedral and the iconic House of Parliament. The Big Ben clock tower soars over the city just as the Eiffel Tower does over Paris. I also was quite impressed with the booming industrial city that it was. From the many factories churning smoke into the skies, to the busy traffic (both on the roads and in the river). Another cool feature of this game was the carriage traffic and the ability to drive a carriage rather than the usual horse. 

The Gameplay

The structure of the game had all the usual components of the Assassin's Creed series with some new additions. There was of course the stealth mode, with eagle vision, and a vast arsenal of knives, blades, and guns. However the game offered character upgrades and new skills to acquire (a concept that was further enhanced in the more free combat style of AC: Origins and AC: Odyssey). The enemies also had a level to them, which made it more difficult to fight someone with a higher level. This was something I did not understand until halfway thru AC: Origins, and frustrated me greatly. However I later adapted and learned to do side missions to continue to upgrade the character. This is a great way to take collect points and money and take on all the game has to offer. 

Another new feature in this game and perhaps my favorite was the grapple hook. The ability to grapple up and across giant buildings (rather than have to climb) made for a refreshing change. It reminded me of the Batman games a bit, a tool he uses often to get an aerial advantage. I used the grapple hook quite frequently to cover ground faster, yet also to make assassinations and quick escapes. This feature was honestly probably my favorite thing about this game, aside from the incredible historical city and it's characters. Other new weapons included brass knuckles and an electrical bomb which was ideal in devastating multiple enemies at a time. 

Other features in this game included gang wars (similar to that of AC: Rouge in New York City 1750s). Jacob and Evie establish the Rooks, to win back the city from the Templar gang known as the Blighters. This is emblematic of Industrial London history as portrayed in popular tv series such as the Peaky Blinders. Each region is divided into various tasks such as a bounty hunt, or assassinating a templar, or liberating children from a factory, or an all out gang war. As I often do in these games, I made this an additional goal of mine to conquer the entire map. It also helps to control regions because you get more support from your gang members if ever caught in a tight spot. 

Perhaps my biggest complaint of this game was the movement up, down, and across buildings. I felt it was not as easy to free jump from one spot to another. This was especially the case when trying to exit the carriage which I thought was often quite discombobulated controls. The historical missions were also a bit sloppy with more errors I felt compared to the main missions. That being said this game was still very enjoyable for me and everything I would expect from my favorite video game series. I began with a desire to better understand the city of London, and walked away with that and more. 

The Historical Characters 

Another thing I greatly enjoyed about this game quite different than the others were the side missions of historical characters. In most the AC games, the main story intercedes with many historical figures and events. This game however offers multiple side missions and interactions with historical characters throughout the city. I suppose this concept was first introduced in the Ezio Trilogy with missions pertaining to Leonardo da Vinci and Copernicus and also returned in AC III with Daniel Boone's missions. However I think it was completely expanded in this game with 6 historical stories (in which I partook and completed each one).

My favorite was that of Charles Dickens, one of England's most famous authors who embodies the whole setting of industrial England. It is thru his writings that I came to understand the cruel and unusual condition of the working class and more so on that of child labor during that age. His character presents the assassin's with ghostly and mysterious tasks, no doubt a homage to his writings. Perhaps the most challenging task in the entire game for me was capturing and arresting a hypnotist, who would hypnotize me if not captured properly. 

There were also minor stories pertaining to Charles Darwin and his scientific endeavors regarding evolution. There was missions with Alexander Graham Bell and his electrical inventions that later gave Jacob and Evie the useful electrical bomb. There were medical missions with Florence Nightingale, often considered one of the founders of nursing. And political missions with Karl Marx, who I was not aware lived in London during the 1850s until his death in 1880s. Much of his communist dealings and organizations began to gain traction in the industrial city of London. I found this to be quite intriguing of an ideology that would later spread to the far east of Moscow. 

The final historical story becomes available after you beat the main sequence in level 10. This pertains to Queen Victoria and working with her secret service operative Alfred Fleming (who is no doubt a homage to James Bond author Ian Fleming). This historical sequence was in my opinion the most difficult, since each mission had some form of James Bond action element. This included jumping on a moving train, to driving a carriage full of explosives, assassinating suicide bombers, and the final task of defusing four bombs in House of Parliament. Each of these tasks were extremely challenging yet also very thrilling. 

Urban Study: London

Now that I've gotten back to work, I've had less time to read, write, and play video games. However I am still pressing on with my Assassin's Creed tour, and the past few weeks have undergone a British phase, much thanks to the game Assassin's Creed Syndicate (which I will soon have a full game review on). This game takes place in 1860s London, and highlights the grim industrial city that it once was. Actually my impression of London to this day is still a murky industrial city however with so much incredible monuments and history. In this post I'd like to make a deep cultural dive into the urban infrastructure of one the world's most iconic cities. 

If you've read my blog for some years now, it would be fair to claim that British history and culture are among my favorite topics. I suppose for me it began with my love of the Beatles as a teenager to later becoming familiar with their iconic literature (Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, George Orwell, JR Tolkein, and JK Rowling). The appreciation took a deeper level when I discovered the English Premier League, that has to this day become my favorite soccer league. Within the EPL I have become familiar with the teams, the cities, the vocabulary, and the customary traditions of England as a whole. Waking up to the EPL on the weekend mornings with a cup of coffee truly brings me joy. 

I also especially enjoy British history, and consider them as the founders and guardians of world order. By the 1500s in the age of discovery, they became the new world power ushered in by the golden age of Queen Elizabeth. Their empire later became one of the largest in the world, by which the sun never set. And from this empire was born the more powerful nation of the United States, which would later surpass their founders, however still accustomed to their fatherland. Consider to this day English remains the most popular language spoken in the world. And especially consider that it was England, who stood up to two of history's most atrocious conquerors Napoleon and Hitler, and saved Europe from complete submission. Thus in my opinion, England has always been the righteous guardians of the world. 

However I digress with this homage to British history and here I intend to specifically target the urban center of this culture. It is the city of London that has long been the headquarters of the British way and here in this iconic city resides many famous stories to share. I consider the city of London among my favorite historic cities on par with Paris, Rome, Boston, or Washington DC. I was glad to have visited the city in the spring of 2018 and seen some of the iconic monuments. However still I would like to spend more time there to get a more complete experience. In this post I'd like to highlight the timeline of the city's history with it's iconic landmarks. 

History of London

I suppose when it comes to the foundation of every major city it usually pertains to the area's geography. In the ancient days of natives and barbarians, civilizations always found greatest sustainability around riverbeds. In the case of London it is the River Thames that breaks inland from the North Sea. This river provided sufficient resources for it's earliest Celtic settlers as far back as 1100 BC. According to ancient legend the city of London was founded by Brutus of Troy, a descendant of the heroic Aeneas. This is of course on par with the fictional tales of  King Arthur, yet demonstrates Britain's early apperception for storytelling. 

In the Iron Age of the Roman Empire, the region was inhabited by a Celtic tribe known as the Trinovantes. However the settlement became overthrown by the Roman empire, during their conquest of Britain in the year 43 AD. The city was briefly recaptured by the Brittonic queen Boudica in 60 AD, however restored to Roman control ten years later. Under Roman authority the settlement thrived and became known as Londinium, the capital of Roman Britain. The city was often victim to Saxon pirate raids, however continued to expand under Roman control until it's decline in 500 AD. 

Following the fall of the Roman Empire, London became inhabited by Germanic tribes known as the Anglo-Saxons. The settlement of London became the center of the vast Saxon territory and was often referred to as Middle-Saxon (or Middlesex). In 604 AD King Saeberht of Essex converted the tribe to Christianity in accordance with the Roman Holy Sea. However despite it's thriving growth, the city was victim to constant viking attacks in the 9th century. The city was sacked in 842 AD by the Great Danish Heathen Army, and was not fully restored to British control until 886. Alfred the Great from Wessex restored the Saxon control of London and strengthened it's defenses. 

London continued to thrive as the booming center of Britain, and became the capital of the newly established Kingdom of England in 927 AD. However still during the time Viking raids from the Scandinavian regions presumed. In 1042 Edward the Confessor was able to restore English authority in the region and commissioned the monumental Westminster Abbey in 1065. However a year later, the city of London became the epicenter of the Norman Conquest led by William the Conqueror. Thus this tribe from Normandy France, consisting of Norse Vikings from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark became the new inhabitants of London. William the Conqueror was crowned king in the newly built Westminster Abbey. 

Medieval London

From this point on the city of London began it's medieval age under the authority of the Norman dynasty. The iconic fortress of the Tower of London was erected in 1078 and later became an infamous prison. Other iconic buildings were later constructed such as the Westminster Palace, which was the early residence of the English Monarchy until the 1500s. In 1209 the Old London Bridge was built and stood for nearly 600 years as the main bridge across the Thames River, until it was replaced by a more modern design in the 1800s. During the 1200s the city was subject to Jewish persecutions, peasant uprisings, and French hostility. Following the First Barons War of 1215, the Magna Carta was signed as the new code of law for England.

By the year 1300 London continued to grow as a thriving metropolis with a population of nearly 80,000. However the city was severely affected by the Black Death from 1347-1351 which spread throughout Europe. This pandemic cost nearly 200 million lives, and to this day remains the deadliest pandemics in history. London however returned to prominence during the Renaissance and Reformation of the 1400s-1500s. The Tudor Dynasty strengthened the British economy and under Henry VIII completely changed the dynamics of  religious authority with the established of the Church of England. No longer did the British Crown answer to the Catholic Church, yet rather to it's own religious denomination on par with the Protestant Reformation.

During the Age of Discovery under Queen Elizabeth, London became a booming city of mercantile trade. The British East India Company became headquartered out of  London in the year 1600, and quickly expanded Britain's imperial might. Soon Britain was bringing in wealth from it's colonies in America, Africa, India, and Asia. By 1605 it had become the largest city in Europe, with a population of 225,000. Also during the time the arts began to flourish, and London became a center for theatrical entertainment, thanks to the popularity of the playwright William Shakespeare. 

During the English Civil War of 1642-1651, the city of London took the side of the Parliamentarians who sought to overthrow the monarchy and establish religious freedom. Oliver Cromwell successfully defeated the Royalist army and had King Charles I executed in 1649 in the northern district of Whitehall. The monarchy was later restored in 1660 after the death of Oliver Cromwell. During this time the city became vastly overpopulated and suffered another terrible pandemic known as the Great Plague in 1665 which killed nearly 100,000 people. 

Things got worse for the city of London in the year 1666 when the city was devastated by the Great Fire of London. The fire started on a windy night at a bakery in Pudding Lane and quickly spread throughout the entire city. The fire lasted for 4 days, and although did not cause many fatalities it destroyed nearly 60% of the city's buildings. This included 13,000 houses, 87 churches, and countless other buildings. The most devastating loss was the monumental Old Saint Paul Cathedral which stood for nearly 400 years as the landmark of the city. 

Following this devastating fire, the monarchy commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to restore the city's architectural wonder. In a span of 60 years after the great fire, Christopher Wren designed over 50 buildings and churches in London, including the construction of his masterpiece, Saint Paul's Cathedral. For this Christopher Wren is regarded as the greatest English architect of all time yet also as the architect of the city of London. By the 1690s London had recovered from the fire, and returned to economic prominence thanks to it's newly established Bank of England as well as the thriving East India Company.   

By the 18th century Britain's global power continued to grow with it's Act of Union in 1707 with Scotland. It continued it's firm grasp on the colonial Americas and it's prospering trade with India. During the 1750s, England succeeded in defeating the French during the Seven Years War and driving them out of colonial America. In 1761 King George III acquired Buckingham Palace as the new royal residence of the monarchy. The city experienced some minor economic setbacks from their defeat at the American Revolutionary War however bounced back quickly thanks to new ideals of Enlightenment. 

Industrial London

After several years of intense war with Napoleon's France, Britain once again emerged victorious in the early 1800s. This ushered in a new era of Industrial Revolution by which London became the most populated city in the world with over 1 million residents. This number multiplied to 6.7 million by 1900, thus demonstrating the booming metropolis that it had become. The city became a center for industry yet also great poverty during the 1850s (a setting demonstrated in Assassin's Creed Syndicate and the literary works of Charles Dickens). This was an era before child labor laws, in which many children were forced to work in factories. The crime and slums of London were a defining part of the city's working-class industrial machine.     

One can only imagine London in the 1850s-1900s, perhaps on par with the industrial wastelands of Gary or New Jersey. In 1858 The Great Stink took a hold of the city, a terrible smell of sewage that caused outbreaks of cholera. Furthermore the city become a refuge for Irish immigrants recovering from the Great Famine. In response to the wasteland the city was becoming, the civil engineer Joseph Bazalgette established a proper sewage system by the 1860s. Further urban renovations continued to restore London's allure such as the monumental House of Parliament with it's iconic clock tower of Big Ben. Also there was the construction of the Tower Bridge which opened in 1886 as a new landmark in the city. 

Modern day London

By the 20th century, London's economic superiority was surpassed by the booming industry of America and challenged by other up-and-comers in Europe. At the time Germany had also become a major industrial producer and sought to establish superiority in Europe. The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 was primarily fought between the two superpowers of Europe, England and Germany. London endured it's first ever aerial bombings by German Zepplins during WWI causing nearly 700 deaths. England however endured as the victors of WWI and brought new harsh regulation on Germany. 

During the 1930s, London suffered from the global economic Great Depression and experienced heightened numbers of unemployment and poverty. This gave way to rising new political ideals such as Communism from Russia and Fascism from Germany. As always though England remained steadfast, even at the outbreak of WWII. In the face of German aggression under the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill arose to lead the British people. The people of London were again the victims of terrible German Aerial bombardments at the Battle of Britain in 1940-1941. This German Blitz caused severe damage to the city including a second great fire and over 40,000 civilian causalities. However the Cathedral of Saint Paul stood amidst the wreckage and the British people endured the German assault and later responded with victory in 1945. 

London was slow to rebuild after the devastation of World War II and took the backseat while new global superpowers emerged such as the United States and Russia. At this point Queen Elizabeth II began her reign in 1953, still reigning to this day as the longest ever British monarch. London still remained a populated industrial city and by the 1960s had once again emerged as a cultural center. The success of British rock musicians such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, gave way to a new youth culture that spread into America and throughout the world. Britain was once again the trendsetters and experienced a new subculture within the city of London.  

The city began a new modernization phase in the 2000s with iconic constructions such as the Millennium Dome, the London Eye, th3 30 Saint Mary building, and the Shard. Furthermore it's hosting of the Olympics in 2012 brought the city once again to global attention. The city has unfortunately been the site of various terrorist attacks in the modern age. However it continues to thrive as one of Europe's most historic cultural centers. It has an impressive population of 9.3 million and is the 4th biggest city in Europe (behind Istanbul, Moscow, and Paris). 

   

Architecture- Key Landmarks 

Westminster Abbey

• Construction: 1060
  
• Purpose: Abbey church
• Significance: It was built by Edward the Confessor as the first major landmark of London shortly before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The building was first designated as a great monastery for the Catholic Church until the 1500s when it was transformed by King Henry VIII into a Church of England. It's tower cathedral structure is very similar to that of Notre Dame in Paris and is one of London's most royal sites. It has been the ceremonial site for the monarch's coronation since it's construction. It's Gothic architecture makes it a very awe-inspiring site in the city of London, a style that was copied for the iconic House of Parliament. 

Windsor Castle

• Construction: 1076
• Purpose: Residence of the English Monarchy
• Significance: It was built by William the Conqueror on the outskirts of London as the primary residence of the monarchy. The castle estate is similar to the Palace of Versailles outside of Paris, that provides the monarchy a secluded location away from the public. The castle was renovated and expanded various times throughout the middle ages. It was later replaced by Buckingham Palace in the 1700s yet still remains to this day one of the monarchy's primary residences.    

Tower of London

• Construction: 1078
  
• Purpose: Fortification, armory, prison
• Significance: One of the first major constructions in the city of London by the Norman conquest of William the Conqueror. The building was designed as a major fortification along the Thames River to defend the newly acquired Norman territory. The fortress' most iconic structure is the White Tower which served as an Armory and later a prison for over 700 years. During the Tudor reign it housed various iconic monarchs such as Queen Elizabeth and Anne Boleyn before she was beheaded. 

Saint Paul's Cathedral

• Construction: 1675-1710
  
• Purpose: The mother church of London
• Significance: The original Old Saint Pauls Cathedral was first built in 1087 and served as an iconic landmark of medieval London. However it was later tragically burnt during the devastating fire of 1666. The Cathedral was later replaced by the design of Christopher Wren with a baroque, neo-classical element that was completed in 1710. The building's white color and massive dome, later went on the influence the construction of the US Capitol. It stands today as a proud structure of London, that endured the German bombings of WWI and most notably the blitz of WWII.  

Buckingham Palace

• Construction: 1703
• Purpose: Royal residence of the Monarchy
• Significance: The building was originally built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, yet later became a royal residence when King George III acquired it in 1761. The building then underwent various expansion and became the primary house of residence for Queen Victoria during the 1800s. It serves today as the royal residence of the monarchy on par with the White House of Washington DC. Perhaps it's most iconic feature is it's golden gate, and the guards dressed in red with their big fluffy black hats.  

Trafalgar Square

• Construction: 1840
  
• Purpose: Town square and historical commemoration
• Significance: The town square was designed to commemorate Britain's victory against Napoleon France at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The square consists of fountains, statues of lions, and it's most iconic structure the Nelson Column. This impressive obelisk stands tall at 169 feet and commemorates Britain's greatest military commander, Admiral Horatio Nelson who died at the Battle of Trafalgar. 

Westminster Palace

• 
  Construction: 1840
• Purpose: House of Parliament
• Significance: It was originally built in 1016 as a royal residence in the district of Westminster, yet later evolved into the House of Parliament in the 1500s. The original building was later burnt by a fire in 1834 and fully replaced by the monument that we see today. It's replacement incorporated the similar Gothic architecture of it's neighboring landmark, the Westminster Abbey. In 1859 it's building's most iconic feature was completed, that of the Big Ben clock tower. The building is without question the most iconic landmark in the city of London on par with the Eiffel tower of Paris or the Colosseum of Rome.    

Tower Bridge

• Construction: 1886-1894
  
• Purpose: Bridge across the Thames River
• Significance: While it is often mistaken with the famous London Bridge, the Tower Bridge stands over the River Thames as the most architecturally impressive bridge in London. It resembles it's neighboring medieval structure of the Tower of London with it's giant white towers. Also the blue suspension rigs give this bridge a modern modern appeal. This is one of my favorite bridges in the world on par with the Brooklyn Bridge or the Golden Gate Bridge. 

30 Saint Mary Axe

• Construction: 2004
• Purpose: Business skyscraper
• Significance: Also known as the Gherkin (the British pickle) this building has a very unique design with its wide and round circumference. It's modern structure stands at an impressive 591 feet and has become an iconic feature of the London skyline. Although it is only the 18th tallest building in London, it's structural design makes it one of the most distinctive. 

The Shard

• Construction: 2012
  
• Purpose: Business skyscraper
• Significance: It is the tallest structure in London and demonstrates the modern day skyline of a booming city. The building has a modern day glass-like structure to it, resembling other modern skyscrapers such as the Shanghai Tower or One World Trade Center. It towers over the city near the River Thames at an impressive 1016 feet. I'll never forget seeing this building for the first time while riding the London Underground subway. It glimmered at night with a modern day appeal like a giant pyramid overlooking the historical city.