Many studies of fictions of city life take the flâneur as the characteristic metropolitan type and streets and plazas as definitive urban spaces. Looking at novels and films set in London and Paris from  L'Assommoir  to Nil By Mouth , this book shows that mass housing is equally central to images of the modern city.

'...seamlessly combining contemporary debates in urban planning...this book challenges the traditional conformity associated with the prevailing views on mass housing.' - The Times Literary Supplement

'...[an] original and interesting book...this book makes an interesting contribution by combining urban studies with literature and cinema' - International Journal of Housing Policy