London has had plenty of reasons to celebrate lately. Last April was the Royal Wedding, and just a few weeks ago thousands commemorated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. But behind these posh events, and the billions of dollars in taxes they require, is a struggling citizenry that has been plagued by terrorism, and more recently, widespread rioting.
In his book, "Capital," John Lanchester writes about life on one London street in 2007 just before the city — and the world — would fall into economic disarray. The book highlights a diverse group of neighbors, each facing their own hurdles in a world ruled by money.