September 2016 marked the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire, which changed the City of London forever. In this remarkable book, museum curator and antiquarian Hazel Forsyth delves into never-before-studied primary sources to shed light on the dramatic aftermath of the disaster, and reveal the very personal stories of the people who pieced their lives together in its wake.

Beginning with details of the fire itself, the escapes and evacuations, and the troubled times in the city afterwards, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker continues with an astonishing "A-Z of Trades,"...