title: London's Shadows: The Dark Side of the Victorian City
author:  Drew D. Gray 
description: Drew Gray's book is a fine addition to the literature on urban history at a time when we were learning to live in large communities and experimenting with different ways of doing so. (<i>History Today</i>)<br /><br />
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
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  The Picture Season In London
  
  
  This page copyright © 2004 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  # The Picture Season In London
  
  
  ### Henry James
  
  
  This page copyright © 2004 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
      
  
  EText by Ian Hillman
  
  
  
  
  
  “The Galaxy”—August 1877
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  WITH the advance of the spring and the development of the season, in
  
  
  London, the streets (in the West End) begin to present to the eye of an
  
  
  observant stranger a great many new characteristics. The dusky
  
  
  metropolis takes on, here and there, in spots, a perceptible
  
  
  brightness, and as the days elapse these spots increase and multiply.
  
  
  At last they produce a general impression of brilliancy. Thanks to this
  
  
  combined effect, the murky Babylon by the Thames becomes cheerful and
  
  
  splendid. At the climax of the season, of a fine, fresh day in June,
  
  
  the West End exhibits a radiance which, to my sense, casts into the
  
  
  shade even the charming brightness of Paris. The brightness 