Hub of empire, world port and seat of government, London has a political history that is nevertheless entwined with the lives of its people, a multitude often dismissed throughout the centuries as a mob. This gripping new counter-history reveals how London's poor and its immigrant population have shaped its history and identity over the ages: from apprentices closing the city gates on Charles I in the 1640s to modern fights against fascism and racism in Cable Street and Notting Hill. A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF LONDON takes us into an unofficial, half-hidden and often undocumented world, a city rarely glimpsed: of pamphleteers, agitators, exiles, demonstrations and riots; the city of Wat Tyler, Marx and Engels, Garibaldi and Gandhi; and the countless pubs, theaters, coffee-houses and meeting-places in which radical ideas have been nurtured and revolutions planned.
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The history of London we have been waiting for, told with elegance and precision. --Ken Loach
Those who continue to uphold London's living traditions of protest will be able to take heart from this fresh and welcome look at the city's history. --Guardian
A timely reminder that there is a very different side to London, every bit as energetic and exciting in its way. --Scotsman
Those who continue to uphold London's living traditions of protest will be able to take heart from this fresh and welcome look at the city's history. --Guardian
A timely reminder that there is a very different side to London, every bit as energetic and exciting in its way. --Scotsman
About the Author
JOHN REES is a writer, broadcaster and activist. His books include The Algebra of Revolution and Imperialism and Resistance. He is the writer and presenter of the Timeline TV series, a member of the editorial board of the online magazine Counterfire, and co-founder of the Stop the War Coalition. LINDSEY GERMAN is a socialist writer and activist who has lived in London all her life. She is convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, stood as candidate for Mayor of London and has written books on women's liberation, class, and war.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By DSW
Format:Paperback
Somewhere in the subject of a working class history of London there is an interesting book. This is not it. Rather this book gives a wooden account of protest groups and class struggles throughout the Capital's history- often at the expense of taking an original look at the life of the `peoples' of London, and indeed quite a top-down approach of events.
For instance, the English Civil War, which dominates a great deal of the first section of the book (the 1500 years or so of history before this point being given only 44 pages) features extensively the leaders, generals and kings rather than examining how London's working class developed, grew and its role in history.
Indeed, the insistence on the role of political movements is largely why the book fails- not to suggest that the levellers, the Unions or the Suffragettes were irrelevant (they clearly were not)- but the authors attempt to strenuously attach these historical organisations to modern protest groups, such as Occupy LSX or the Stop the War Coalition. Therefore, the book comes off more as a semi-serious effort to legitimize themselves historically, rather than to provide a historical background to the foundation stone of the capital- the people.
For instance, the English Civil War, which dominates a great deal of the first section of the book (the 1500 years or so of history before this point being given only 44 pages) features extensively the leaders, generals and kings rather than examining how London's working class developed, grew and its role in history.
Indeed, the insistence on the role of political movements is largely why the book fails- not to suggest that the levellers, the Unions or the Suffragettes were irrelevant (they clearly were not)- but the authors attempt to strenuously attach these historical organisations to modern protest groups, such as Occupy LSX or the Stop the War Coalition. Therefore, the book comes off more as a semi-serious effort to legitimize themselves historically, rather than to provide a historical background to the foundation stone of the capital- the people.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By HeatherH
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
My sister-in-law enjoyed this book as she is studying London. Our family are all Londoners by inheritance or by birth
7 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Makhno
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The authors have a unique ability to make a really interesting and exciting subject boring. The class battles throughout our London history read like a wooden account of a third division bowling tournament in middle class suburb of the capital.
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