The 6th annual London Literary Festival has just got underway at the Southbank, and to mark its eclectic programme, we've invited five of the writers appearing at the 10 day event to reflect on their host city.
Here Stella Duffy, Maggie Fergusson, Noo Saro-Wiwa, John Banville and Harriet Sergeant pick the book that best encapsulates the capital for them, from modern novels like Ian McEwan's Saturday to classics like The People of the Abyss by Jack London.
The festival its self is set to be a fascinating look at London from a myriad of perspectives, as novelist Ronan Bennett joins MP David Lammy to debate the legacy last summer's riots and Harriet Sergeant discusses her time befriending a gang in Brixton.
More exciting though is the Shake the Dust poetry slam festival that will uncover the future stars of spoken word - headed up by the formidable Saul Williams and the UK's own Kate Tempest.
Which are some of your favourite books about London? Let us know below