Forget the palace intrigues for a minute. London and the Kingdom - Volume 2 picks up where the first book left off, following London's story from the Tudor era into the 18th century. Sharpe doesn't just tell us about monarchs; he shows us how the city's own government—the Lord Mayor, the aldermen, the powerful livery companies—reacted to, resisted, and sometimes outright defied royal authority.

The Story

This volume covers a wild period: the religious rollercoaster of the Reformation, the Civil War that saw London take Parliament's side against the King, and the Great Fire that physically reshaped the city. The "plot" is the city's struggle for identity and self-rule. You'll see how London bankrolled wars, dealt with devastating plagues, and slowly transformed from a medieval walled town into a financial powerhouse that could challenge the crown.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this book special is the focus on institutions and ordinary (well, wealthy ordinary) Londoners. You get a real sense of the City of London as a character with its own goals. Sharpe dug through archives to find the meeting minutes, financial records, and petitions that show how decisions were actually made. It’s history from the counting-house and the guild hall, not just the throne room.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves London or British history but is tired of the same royal biographies. It's dense with detail, so it’s best for readers who enjoy getting into the nitty-gritty of how things worked. If you've ever walked through the City and wondered how these ancient institutions survived for centuries, this book is your answer. It turns civic governance into a surprisingly human drama.