The city is London.

A city familiar to many, whether as a resident, commuter or tourist, from the pages of a book or images on the small or silver screen.For each of us, a glimpse of the underground, an inner-city pub, an iconic marketplace, a famous museum or gallery or park, even a housing estate will likely spark a flicker of recognition - a feeling of familiarity: I know where I am. But do we?

In this collection of short stories J. W. Du Four delves deeper, to remind us the city is more than its landmarks.It is home ground for the inhabitants of these spaces; and the tales they spin - laced with subtexts and secrets, mysteries and memories, revelations and regrets - might start out straightforward, but seldom end up that way. These eleven unusual and memorable stories, rich in detail, atmosphere and magical realism, reveal the city and its inhabitants in a refreshing new light.