A History of the City

In The Story of the City, urban historian Leo Hollis takes listeners on a captivating journey through the history of cities, from the first settlements in ancient Mesopotamia to the megacities of today. This isn’t just a story about concrete and steel, but about the people who dreamed, built, and shaped the places that more than half of the people on Earth call home.

Learn about the inventor of the elevator, the urban planner who reforged Paris, the construction workers who built the Empire State Building, and other extraordinary characters who have left an indelible mark on our urban landscape. aDiscover how innovations like the safety elevator, the sewer, and the car reshaped city living, while also creating challenges for the future.

Leo Hollis is an urban historian, writer, and broadcaster. He is the author of The Phoenix: The Men Who Made Modern London and the international bestseller, Cities Are Good For You. Leo is a regular contributor to the London Review of Books and his work has been featured in The Guardian, The Economist, and The Financial Times. He lives in London and is a frequent speaker at literary festivals and conferences worldwide.

© 2026 Leo Hollis (P) 2026 DK Audio