The Rebuilding of London After the Great Fire. By T.
F. Reddaway. (Cape. as.)
BY most people the rebuilding of London after 1666 is vaguely envisaged as an immense administrative muddle, in which great opportunities were thrown away and splendid metropolitan visions were thwarted. In this careful and thorough work Mr. Reddaway has investigated the magnitude of the problems created by the Great Fire and the actual manner of their solution. His findings are, in effect, that the disaster was of national proportions ; that the schemes promoted by Wren and Evelyn and others were more brilliant than practical ; and that the administration of the times (and the judges in particular) rose extremely well to the occasion. It is an interesting investigation ; but it is almost wholly lacking in human interest. Mr. Reddaway fords no villains or heroes to illuminate his story ; but he puts good material before a reader who is not afraid of facts and figures.
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