Way back in 2019 I came across a Kickstarter project that blended my passion for all things London with my love of reading, but with a dash of fantasy thrown in for good measure... 'The London Master's Guide' by Sean Hunt.
The London Master's Guide |
Reading through the various pledges I decided to become a backer. This would be the second book that I would back, concerning London, on Kickstarter, with the first being 'Faith in the City of London' by Niki Gorick.
The blurb on the Kickstarter page went as follows:
London is one of the most historic and oft visited places in the world. It’s a true multicultural hub, made up of thousands of points of interest, a multitude of strange delights and vibrant people. Ancient pubs sit in the shadows of towering skyscrapers. Long-forgotten paths open up into new avenues. History peeks out from behind every rooftop, daring you to become a part of London's legend.
The London Master's Guide is the world’s first tour book that blends real-life travel with the magical genre of fantasy.
The book is an essential guide to one of the world’s most storied cities, filled with curious attractions, macabre history, and legendary destinations. But this isn’t your regular travel book. It’s full of original artwork that brings London to life through the lens of fantasy and is written in a way that makes your upcoming trip a part of the city's history.
The London Master's Guide serves to inspire your imagination, fuel your wanderlust and give you all the tools that you need to plan your very own adventure.
Come intrepid adventurer! There are many sights to see!
The goal of £18,000 to get the book from fantasy to reality was soon surpassed, with £23,769 being raised.
For myself, I had pledged £20 which got me a softback copy of the London Master's Guide and a digital (PDF) copy of the London Master's Guide.
Now all I had to do was to sit back and wait.. and wait... and wait. There's nothing like a pandemic to put a spanner in the works. Lockdowns, restricted travel and being unable to socialise all added to the timescale. The June 2020 estimated delivery was pushed back, but the project was still going ahead.
Then, in December 2021, I received my copy of the book through the post and... WOW!
The glossy pages and amazing artwork, mixed with the tongue-in-cheek writing style, made this an incredibly unique book. The delay didn't matter any more. What I now held in my hands was well worth the wait.
The Black Dog of Newgate. |
The artwork is exceptional and completely unique and the little snippets of history work well with the fantasy artwork.
Your traditional guide books get you from A to B, but miss the historical and more unusual aspects of this great city.
The London Master's Guide corrects this and takes you on a magical adventure through the historical, unusual and macabre aspects of London.
If you would like to know more about the book, purchase a copy or even look through the various other London Master's Guide merchandise available, then click on the link below.
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