Writing on the Wall

"Writing on the Wall" by Madeleine Pelling offers a cultural history of the 18th century through the unexpected perspective of graffiti and wall inscriptions. Spanning from London to the Caribbean, the book uncovers the personal stories and experiences of ordinary people—ranging from prisoners to artisans—whose messages etched into walls reveal the social and political upheavals of the era. Through these hidden marks, Pelling brings to life the voices and lives that shaped Britain’s transformative century.