The City of London in Literature: Place, People and Pursuits - Ranald Michie

TL;DR

Novels portray the City of London as a center of greed and corruption through the lens of fiction, reflecting complex financial realities.

Transcript

a few thanks to begin with I would like to thank Galician College for inviting me to deliver a lecture let's hope in an hour's time they'll be pleased with the product but who can tell I would like to thank the Guildhall library for hosting this this event when this was a different type of library here I spent I suppose weeks if not months possibly... Read More

Key Insights

• 🇻🇦 Literature portrays the City of London as a center of greed, corruption, and dishonorable conduct through novels.
• 🇦🇬 Themes of anti-Semitism, anti-capitalism, and imperialism prevalent in novels depicting the City of London in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• 🫵 Post-World War II, bankers are viewed more positively in literature, with a shift towards exploring promises, failures, and the complexity of the financial sector.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does literature depict the City of London in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

Novels during this period depict the City of London as a hub of greed, corruption, and dishonorable conduct, with company promoters and financiers portrayed negatively.

Q: What were the prevalent themes in novels that portrayed the City of London before the First World War?

Themes of anti-Semitism, anti-capitalism, and imperialism were prevalent in novels focusing on the City of London in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, perpetuating negative perceptions.

Q: How did the portrayal of bankers evolve post-World War II in literature?

Post-World War II, bankers are depicted as respected figures in literature, with novels shifting focus towards promises, failures, and the volatility of the financial sector rather than capitalizing on negative stereotypes.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The City of London portrayed negatively in novels as a place of greed and dishonorable conduct, with company promoters at the forefront.

• Anti-Semitism, anti-capitalism, and imperialism themes prevalent in portrayals of the City of London in late 19th and early 20th centuries.

• Post-World War II, bankers become respected figures, novelists focusing more on promises and failures in the financial sector.