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Burke ’ s writing blends several styles in order to create a dramatic portrait of London.

Limehouse Nights and its various sequels classified Burke as a “ purveyor of melodramatic stories of lust and murder among London ’ s lower classes ”.

Both his essays and fiction, focusing particularly on Limehouse Nights, are characterized, seemingly paradoxically, with harsh realities and more romanticized, poetic outlooks.

Ultimately, Burke ’ s style is that of a blend of realism and romanticism.

Burke ’ s first-hand knowledge ( though overstated in his fictional autobiographies ) and love for the city of London enabled Burke to write intimately about London life.

Burke was also influenced by the work of Thomas de Quincy, and many of his writings that focus on the Limehouse district bear a resemblance to Quincy ’ s Confessions of an English Opium Eater.