A slightly light-hearted look at the social history to be gained from over a century of images in the pages of The Times, often of course called The London Times for clarification. For every state event there is a candid of some commoners, for every visit to the East End for a royal jubilee being celebrated on a road swarming with families there is a photo op for some swimwear-selling beauties on Oxford Street. And for every sports event there is a time when the weather would have made that quite hellish.

All this was recorded for a strange mix of posterity – this being one of the Newspapers of Record – and disposability, perhaps with some inky fish and chips. So some photos are quite unremarkable – two geezers and some lamp-posts on a London thoroughfare – until you realise there is a clearly remarkable event happening – in this case, the end of the wartime blackout. Some images are arguably poorly done, but as it's a future Queen and her sister on the tube, you forgive it.

What is clear is that times – and The Times – have changed. One minute daring people don't wear hats in public, even when it's scorchio, the next they do when they're on a roof pitching up an aerial for a pirate radio station. This shows brutalist tower blocks going up – and then almost falling down again. Churchill has both a budget to deliver, and a funeral procession.

All the photos remain in fine greyscale, as they would have been seen on the papers of their day, and the facing page is a short paragraph and credit, snappily (no pun intended) informing us of what's what. It's all a gentle affair, really – not telling us much, but showing how iconic events can be presented with a quirky angle. One major affair is represented by serried ranks of photographers; other paps are sat playing cards outside Buck House waiting for news of Prince Charles' birth to come through. But don't get the impression this is all state affairs – there are workers and shirkers, and Selfridges Christmas decorations. If you accept this is not at all comprehensive or particularly educational, this is perfectly pleasant. But this is a slight thing, all told – a bit tabloidy, and not thunderous. Three and a half stars.

I was unable to view the photos on my tablet via the NetGalley device, and read the book on my computer using Adobe Digital Editions. It is rather meant for a bigger screen anyways.
This might be one of my favourite photobooks, and books about London. Most of the photos had an entirely fresh story effect on me - I had learnt and experienced so much. This is a keeper - will consider purchasing it.

These photos are so lovely with great information attached to them. I think this would make for a great coffee table book. thank you netgalley for letting me read and review.