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10 literary protagonists who made their city their own

1
London, England: Thomas Cromwell, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Fans will find plenty of spots connected to Cromwell in London’s “urban gut”, and Gray’s Inn, one of the city’s four Inns of Court, is a good place to begin. Cromwell, a lawyer himself, was a member here and the flower-filled grounds are open to the public at select times.
Next, strike east to Austin Friars, a street in the City where Cromwell once lived – the opulent Draper’s Hall stands at the site of his former home.
2
Edinburgh, Scotland: Inspector Rebus, The Inspector Rebus series by Ian Rankin

Another top spot is Cowgate, a street slicing through Edinburgh’s Old Town. This notoriously gloomy avenue rears its head frequently in the Rebus novels, mainly because it’s home to the city mortuary.
Die-hard fans should also take a Rebus Tour for an unparalleled glimpse into the detective’s dark world.
3
Paris, France: Jean Valjean, Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

So, to bring Hugo’s famous character to life, you’ll need to go underground. In a gripping scene, Valjean escapes from the barricades through Paris’s sewer system, having rescued wounded Marius. While it might not top your Parisian bucket list, the Musée des Égouts de Paris (Paris Sewer Museum) offers a fabulous tour of these subterranean sites.
4
New York City, USA: Holden Caulfield, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

The novel is crammed with New York sights visited by young Holden. Make for buzzing Broadway, where he takes Sally Hales to a show, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he meets sister Phoebe.
For a change of pace, visit The Pond at Central Park – Holden’s concern for the fate of the ducks here in winter is a recurring theme in the novel.
5
Stockholm, Sweden: Lisbeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Much of the action takes place in Södermalm, the cool island neighbourhood where Salander and Blomkvist live – and the best way to explore it is with the Millenium Tour. Dedicated to the novel and its characters, the tour criss-crosses the island passing bars and cafés frequented by the pair and Salander’s own apartment.
6
Mumbai, India: Saleem Sinai, Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

Mumbai’s rich culture and notorious bustle is captured beautifully within Rushdie’s novel and many famed sights are peppered throughout. The most notable are monumental arch the Gateway to India, and the Haji Ali Dargah mosque, an island shrine.
7
Dublin, Republic of Ireland: Leopold Bloom, Ulysses by James Joyce

Take the ‘Footsteps of Leopold Bloom’ tour by the James Joyce Centre. You’ll weave through Dublin, finishing on Kildare Street and the National Library of Ireland, where Bloom heads in “Episode 9 – Scylla and Charybdis”.
Other spots include the Ormond Hotel, where Bloom dines in “Episode 11 – Sirens”. The hotel is undergoing a modern makeover, but there’ll be echoes of the character throughout, from plaques to textual extracts.
8
Florence, Italy: Lucy Honeychurch, A Room with a View, by E. M. Forster

The Tuscan city is as important a character as Honeychurch here, with stars including soaring Basilica of Santa Croce and sprawling Piazza della Signoria, where Honeychurch witnesses a murder. Explore them both on a walking tour – Florence is a joy to explore on foot.
9
Los Angeles, USA: Philip Marlowe, The Philip Marlowe series, Raymond Chandler

Locations from Santa Monica Pier to Sunset Boulevard provide a backdrop for Marlowe’s crime-fighting exploits, and you can take them in on dedicated sightseeing tours. His fictional office is also tucked away along Cahuenga Boulevard.
10
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Nella Oortman, The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Wander along Gouden Bocht, a stretch of the Herengracht canal with grand, waterside houses – it’s here that Nella lives with her new husband. To seek out the mysterious miniaturist, head to Kalverstraat – the street she resides on is now a bustling commercial artery.
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