John Evelyn's vision of a 'volcanic' London

What is it about?

In several of his publications, the 17th century gardener and diarist John Evelyn represented London as a 'volcanic' city. He used volcanic imagery and metaphors to evoke an urban environment blighted by dense clouds of toxic smoke billowing from industrial furnaces and domestic chimneys. This article traces the origin of this vision to Evelyn's visit to Vesuvius and places it within a wider cultural fascination with theories of subterranean fire.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This article explores a rich seam of volcanic imagery in John Evelyn's writings about London which has received little attention. It adds to our understanding of how the early modern metropolis was imagined, and how metaphors from the natural world shaped perceptions of the urban environment.