Liza Picard
Encyclopedia
Liza Picard is an English
historian
specialising in the history of London
.
After reading law
at the London School of Economics
she was called to the bar
by Gray's Inn
when she was 21. She did not practice as a barrister
, although she did write a book called Questions and Answers on Private International Law for which she was paid £25. She worked for the office of the Solicitor of Inland Revenue until her retirement in 1987. She left her home in Hackney
and moved to Oxford
.
Upon retirement Picard began researching the history of Restoration
London, publishing her first book on the subject in 1997. Three years later, she published a similar volume on Dr. Johnson's
London, one on Elizabeth's
London followed in 2003, Victorian
London in 2005.
Her books place great emphasis on citing contemporary diaries so that she may 'speak with the voice of the times'.
Picard is modest about her skills, telling the Guardian
: "I am not a properly trained historian. I am a lawyer by trade, and an inquisitive, practical woman by character."
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
specialising in the history of London
History of London
London, the capital of the United Kingdom , has a recorded history that goes back over 2,000 years. During this time, it has grown to become one of the most significant financial and cultural capitals of the world. It has experienced plague, devastating fire, civil war, aerial bombardment and...
.
After reading law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
she was called to the bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
by Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
when she was 21. She did not practice as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, although she did write a book called Questions and Answers on Private International Law for which she was paid £25. She worked for the office of the Solicitor of Inland Revenue until her retirement in 1987. She left her home in Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
and moved to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
Upon retirement Picard began researching the history of Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
London, publishing her first book on the subject in 1997. Three years later, she published a similar volume on Dr. Johnson's
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
London, one on Elizabeth's
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
London followed in 2003, Victorian
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
London in 2005.
Her books place great emphasis on citing contemporary diaries so that she may 'speak with the voice of the times'.
Picard is modest about her skills, telling the Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
: "I am not a properly trained historian. I am a lawyer by trade, and an inquisitive, practical woman by character."