For future "getting clever" books, you might like Johnson's Life of London by the present Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. A delectable look at the history of the city through the lives of major characters who lived and acted there. Johnson is a delightful writer, with a very wry, British (oddly enough *g*) tone. For some reason (and it's not the writing style, I can assure you) it reminds me of Samuel Pepys, perhaps because Johnson "goes about" London so much. I'm enjoying it very much!