The increasing number of periodical articles devoted to urban history is a reassuring sign that this is still an expanding field of study, sustained by a considerable amount of research. However, this reassurance has to be tempered by an apparent decline in the number of completed theses which are of more than peripheral interest to historians working on urban themes, a development which no doubt reflects the currently unfavourable climate for postgraduate research rather than diminishing interest in our particular field. And it must be pointed out that the theses in question are still produced in such volume that only a limited number can be reviewed here, representing a selection of the work that has come to our attention during 1981 and 1982. The coverage therefore remains restricted but it is gradually becoming more exacting in its definition of ‘recent’ and thus, it is hoped, becoming more useful in disseminating the findings of new research.