For many years, the literati treated London as their home, and why not, you might wonder? Famous figures from Shakespeare to Sherlock Holmes have lived here. After all, London is home to the Elizabethan theatre and the Shenanigans of Oliver Twist. For many, the city might seem like a capital steeped in history and the traditional, and for good reason, it is.
Ever since its inception, London has had a strong legacy. It is this juxtaposition of ancient and modern that keeps it fascinating in the eyes of many. Beneath its historic buildings is a labyrinthine world buried under its ancient historical legacy. If you don’t believe it, just try exploring the London underground.
As a twenty-first-century reader, you might be compelled to slip beneath the surface and never emerge, but don’t let that deter you from exploring the city’s unique historical and literary escapades.
If you want to unlock the city’s literary value, step beyond its theatres and museums to uncover its literary heritage. There is no better way to do that than learning about its famous residents and exploring their London abodes. As a start, here are five captivating literary personalities who made this city home.
Sherlock Holmes
Nobody embodies detective stories like Sherlock Holmes. The fictional character created by the Scottish writer Arthur Conan Doyle is the most enduring character in the popular imagination of literary detective stories. For good reason, Holmes is often referred to as the most inspirational detective; he appeared in more than 25,000 stage adaptations, film, and television productions by the end of the 1990s. If you want to learn more about Holmes’s fictional detective, stop by London’s Baker Street, which houses the Sherlock Holmes Museum.
Charles Dickens
There is no English literature without Dickens; after all, Dickens’s stories have fascinated the young and old alike and contributed to some of English literature’s best works. By the end of the 20th century, scholars recognized him as a literary genius thanks to immortal pieces like Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, and the Pickwick Papers.
If you want to trace the history of this legendary author, the Charles Dickens Museum is a must-see attraction. The four-story house gives you a fascinating glimpse into the life and times of this Victorian author. For starters, you’ll get to see the room where he wrote his stories along with his desk, and other notable artifacts that include original manuscripts of his works and personal items.
John Keats
Keats is recognized as the most Romantic poet in English literature. His poems are heavily loaded with sensualism. Although he died young, Keats’ works were recognized for strongly influencing English literature. Before his death, Keats fell in love with his neighbour’s daughter and composed a sensational poem called Ode to a Nightingale in the gardens of his house off Downshire Hill. This house, where Keats wrote many of his plays, regularly hosts readings and lectures; it is also home to many of his personal possessions and manuscripts.
Oscar Wilde
London’s audiences are enamored by Oscar Wilde’s plays. Considered one of the greatest playwrights of the Victorian era, he is best known for his literary plays, some of which are still frequently revived. If you want to explore everything, Oscar Wilde, one of the best ways to do so would be in London. Located on 34 Tite Street, the house that was Wilde’s former residence still has a blue plaque that commemorates his residency. It was here that he penned some of his most outstanding works, like The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest.
Virginia Woolf
Considered among the most prolific English writers, Woolf epitomized the modernist novels. Her writing and essays on feminism were renowned for their criticism. Some of her most popular works include novels like Mrs. Dalloway and To The Lighthouse. Woolf’s childhood home was at 22 Hyde Park Gate in Kensington, where she lived with her parents and family. After the death of her father, Woolf suffered from mental health issues, and soon afterward, the family sold their home and relocated to 46 Gordon Square in Bloomsbury.
