History of Regent Street by Hermione Hobhouse
 
Regent Street is one of the best known streets in London. This book traces its development from a royal scheme devised for the Prince Regent by his favourite architect, John Nash, in the 19th century to its role as the 'destination street' of today. It was celebrated as the 'avenue of superfluities' - full of modish shops providing clothes, British and imported dress material, and luxuries like fans, furs and jewellery. So successful were the shopkeepers that rebuilding was necessary by the end of Queen Victoria's reign.