I bought this book on the last day of my most recent visit to the city at the wonderfully named Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights. Although it isn't quite the comprehensive history I was looking for (on the analogy of Patrick Nuttgens's history of York), it contains an immense amount of useful and interesting historical and cultural information, focusing naturally on the city's zenith during the Georgian period. There are also some useful suggestions for walks and itineraries for daytrips from the city to Bristol, Salisbury and Stonehenge. Surprisingly, there are no photographs at all, just line drawings, and only one map. ( )