London has been the inspiration of many a great book. Sherlock Holmes solved many a mystery on the fictitious streets of the capital, while the surge of industry and smog offered authors like J.R.R. Tolkien a greater appreciation for the countryside settings in his works.
Of course, there are many different parts of London, with Soho just being one of them. Even so, there is a strong collection of modern hits and even a legend of the literary world that brings our segment of London to the fore.
Legendary Works to Forever Denote Soho
We don’t know which modern stories will go on to be retold for decades or even centuries. Looking way back, simple lessons within a creative narrative tend to pass through the years, such as with The Three Little Pigs. That fairytale, in particular, has even passed through mediums to become the Huff N’ Even More Puff Grand slot online.
Created by Light & Wonder, the game recognises the allure of the original story, with the three pigs building something strong enough to keep the wolf out, proving that hard work and preparation are the best policy. For the game, the best preparation naturally comes from reading the paytable and understanding its key features.
That example of legendary works was cited as being put to print by James Halliwell-Philipps in 1886, per Joseph Jacobs in 1890. It just so happens that another book published that same year is both legendary and set in Soho. Robert Louis Stevenson’s incredible 1886 story The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is based in Soho.
The home address of the unfortunate Dr Henry Jekyll is noted as being a square in Soho. As his character derails, he moves to less glamorous surroundings, as Mr Hyde becomes more and more the dominant force. Given its enduring prestige, there’s a good chance you’ll find it in bookshops like IDEA and Foyles in Soho.
Finding Soho in More Recent Publications
This bustling neck of London, with its pubs, clubs, and neon lights, can easily inspire many modern storytellers. Of course, those who work in film have often come to these streets. Peeping Tom, Love is the Devil, and Eyes Wide Shut are just a few of the hits that have brought Soho into the stories of the big screen.
In books, the Bohemian allure of Soho is so often drawn upon, even if just for a few scenes en route to the ending. Among the top picks reflecting this would be Queens of Bohemia: And Other Miss-Fits from Darren Coffield, which is set amidst the boom of creative culture at the start of the 20th Century.
Moon Over Soho, The Great Trouble, Torchwood: Goodbye Piccadilly, and Bad Girls, Good Women are on Goodreads that both rated rather highly and take you on a run through the streets of Soho. It’s somewhat niche to feature Soho very prominently, but there’s plenty to enjoy for those in the know.
So, while there are plenty of newer stories that are set in Soho, easily the most prominent is The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
