Soho
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3.5 • 4 Ratings
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- £9.99
Publisher Description
SOHO - ILLICIT, GLAMOROUS, SORDID, LOUCHE, POVERTY-STRICKEN, SQUALID, EXHILARATING.
One of Britain's best-loved historians, Dan Cruickshank grants us an intimacy with centuries of rich and varied London history as he guides us around the Soho of the last five hundred years. We learn of its original aspirations towards respectability, how it became the city's bohemian quarter and why it was once home to its criminal underworld.
The history of Soho is written in its surviving architecture, including its bars, clubs and theatres. Cruickshank observes how the common denominator over the centuries is its appeal as a destination for immigrants: from French Huguenots to the Italian and East European Jewish community and recent Chinese diaspora - and that this is the foundation of its spirit and success. Even as he mourns some of the changes, he pays heartfelt testament to the district's resilience.
Customer Reviews
Lots of architecture listings. Quite dry on history.
There’s a lot of interesting information, but sometime it feels like we’re just being read a list with little interest, also culturally speaking several buildings of note get totally ignored in what feels like a deeply snobby way because they don’t meet the authors architectural interests.
This is definitely more a history of architecture in Soho more than a broad history of the areas history or people.
Disappointing
This is not narrated by Dan, only the introduction is by Dan.
I Couldn’t tell who the narrator is, as no mention of him anywhere, and I didn’t connect with his voice. If I knew this before I wouldn’t have purchased it.
Dan’s new book is him all the way through and an excellent buy.