Margaret Willes

St. Paul's Cathedral stands at the heart of London, an enduring symbol of the city. Less well known is the neighborhood at its base that hummed with life for over a thousand years, becoming a theater for debate and protest, knowledge and gossip. For the first time Margaret Willes tells the full story of the area. She explores the dramatic religious debates at Paul's Cross, the bookshops where Shakespeare came in search of inspiration, and the theater...

"Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn vividly reveal in their diaries and correspondence the world of Restoration England. Now Margaret Willes uses the analogy of a cabinet of curiosities to provide a detailed account not only of the two friends but also of their times. Pepys was down to earth and realistic, while Evelyn was a genteel aesthete, but, brought together by their work to help distressed sailors, they developed a long and close friendship. This...