Out and About London

"Out and About London" by Thomas Burke is a collection of essays which paints a picture of London's spirit during World War I, showing a city changed by war's realities. Set in the early 20th century, the book explores the city's evolving mood while reflecting on social and cultural shifts caused by conflict. The story begins with the author's walk through London in 1917, where he is first uplifted by the start of spring, but he soon sees how the war has greatly changed London, turning a lively city into a subdued shadow of itself; he comes to grips with how war's impact has deeply altered London, leading him to consider lost customs and earlier experiences as he shows readers the sorrowful beauty and changes happening in a beloved city.