IanVisits reviews Croydonopolis

In his widely read London blog Ian Mansfield has given Croydonopolis a long and approving review. ‘“Croydon?” sneered Kenneth Williams, “sounds more like an illness.” Many might agree with this opinion,’ Ian admits, ‘but maybe you’ll downgrade it to a mild sniffle after reading this amusing history of the city that never was . . . The writing style will amuse anyone who reads it,’ he concludes, ‘and they might look at Croydon, if not more fondly, certainly a lot more informed about it.’

The Church Times gives a great review to Croydonopolis

The 29 November issue of the Church Times carries a long and affectionate review of Will Noble’s book, by a Croydonian member of the clergy. For Peter Graystone ‘Will Noble’s delightful and extremely funny book is a love letter to the southernmost borough of London - a town that throughout its history has repeatedly aimed high, dazzled, crashed, and burned.’ ‘For a Croydonian such as I am, every page contains another nostalgic pleasure,’ he declares, before wondering, ‘Will it have the same appeal for someone who has never visited?’ His conclusion is that the stories of such protagonists of Croydon’s history as Amy Johnson and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor ‘are told with such aplomb that they have a universal appeal.’

Andrew Martin's Reading on Trains blog reviews Croydonopolis

In his new Books Special round-up on his Substack blog Reading on Trains Andrew Martin reviews Croydonopolis. If, like him, you come from somewhere like York, he muses, ‘which was compared to Florence only last week in the Spectator, you’re likely to have a pitying attitude towards Croydon, which could easily shade into contempt.’ But, he continues, ‘having read Will Noble’s book, Croydonopolis: A Journey to the City That Never Was, I’m much better disposed towards Croydon. I might even get off the train there one day, but I doubt it will give me as much pleasure as Noble’s witty and very readable prose’ - and goes so far as to conclude that ‘a plaque bearing his name should appear on one of those blustery street corners.’  

Popular podcast No Such Thing as a Fish features Croydonopolis

The latest episode, recorded in front of 2,000 people at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, devotes its first 11 minutes to the subject of Croydon and Will Noble’s book, which it praises as ‘fantastic’. ‘If you only buy one book about Croydon this year . . .’ it advises.

A positive review of London's Street Trees in the newsletter of the Botanical Society

The new edition of London’s Street Trees is reviewed in the latest newsletter of the BSBI. ‘I strongly recommend this book,’ concludes the reviewer Clive Stace - one of Britain’s most eminent botanists - ‘to beginners and experts alike’.

Suzi Feay's Book Bag vlog interviews Will Noble about Croydonopolis

Suxi Feay’s Book Bag vlog on YouTube has as its most recent interview a long conversation with Will Noble about his book Croydonopolis: is it, she wonders, ‘a love letter to Croydon’?

Retail Insider reviews Croydonopolis

On his Retail Insider blog, Glynn Davis has given Croydonopolis an extremely positive review, praising Will Noble’s ‘breezy style, weaving humour, history and facts in a very readable manner’ and, while concentrating on the town’s retail history, acknowledging that the author ‘does a sterling job of also telling the story of its architecture, music, art and impressive countryside and gardens’.

Richard Williams reviews Croydonopolis on The Blue Moment

The distinguished music critic Richard Williams has given Croydonopolis an affectionate and extremely enthusiastic review on his popular blog The Blue Moment (29 September), recalling his own experience of seeing an early Roxy Music gig at the Greyhound there, and praising the book as ‘extremely absorbing’ and ‘a fascinating read’.