London, 1900-1951

Perhaps 1897 would be a better date for beginning a sketch of the history of modern London. In 1897 was celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, the last, great untroubled pageant of English history. All the nations of the earth came to celebrate her reign; all the splendour of the greatest empire, the wealth and pride of the world’s greatest city were on display. Few took seriously Kipling’s warning that this pomp might go the way “of Nineveh and Tyre”. Then, in January, 1901, the Queen died. A new era opened, if not in fact, at least in feeling. But between the two dates there had been a crack in Victorian complacency.