SHORTLISTED FOR THE HESSELL-TILTMAN HISTORY PRIZE 2017
AN OBSERVER BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016
'Genial, erudite and companionable . . . this heroic and heartfelt book caps a career devoted to Spitalfields' heritage.' Spectator
'A passionate, scholarly energy and involvement with every era of the district's long history come off Spitalfields' pages.' Times Literary Supplement
'People's history at its tastiest.' Sunday Express
Religious strife, civil conflict, waves of immigration, the rise and fall of industry, great prosperity and grinding poverty - the handful of streets that constitute modern Spitalfields have witnessed all this and much more.
In Spitalfields, one of Britain's best-loved historians tells the stories of the streets he has lived in for four decades. Starting in Roman times and continuing right up to the present day, Cruickshank explains how Spitalfields' streets evolved, what people have lived there, and what lives they have led. En route, he discovers the tales of the Huguenot weavers who made Spitalfields their own after the Great Fire of London. He recounts the experiences of the first Jewish immigrants. He evokes the slum-ridden courts and alleys of Jack the Ripper's Spitalfields. And he describes the transformation of the Spitalfields he first encountered in the 1970s from a war-damaged collection of semi-derelict houses to the vibrant community it is today.
This is a fascinating evocation of one of London's most distinctive districts. At the same time, it is a history of England in miniature.
'Cruickshank writes perceptively and honestly . . . As well as being a fascinating account of a unique area of London, Spitalfields is a timely warning that helps us to appreciate what the city and country risk losing.' Country Life
Industry Reviews
Genial, erudite and companionable . . . this heroic and heartfelt book caps a career devoted to [Spitalfields'] heritage. * Spectator *
With beguiling erudition, TV historian and local resident Cruickshank tells the story of Spitalfields from Roman times to today . . . This is people's history at its tastiest. * Sunday Express *
A passionate, scholarly energy and involvement with every era of the district's long history come off Spitalfields' pages . . . Absorbing detail. * Times Literary Supplement *
Cruickshank writes perceptively and honestly . . . As well as being a fascinating account of a unique area of London, Spitalfields is a timely warning that helps us to appreciate what the city and country risk losing. * Country Life *
Dan Cruickshank bores into the rich history of Spitalfields, the area of east London where he has lived for decades. -- Rowan Moore, Best Books of 2016 * Observer *
Dan Cruickshank has long been a resident of Elder Street in Spitalfields. In this elaborate chronicle of the district's past, he takes us on a historical tour that runs from the Romans to Tracy Emin . . . A love letter to a distinctive part of London that has always retained its own personality. * History Today *
Cruickshank's history laments the City's encroachment on Spitalfields and the attendant growth there of estate agents, internet companies, fashion outlets and beardy hipster capitalists bent on having their slice of East End exotica. -- Best Books About London * Evening Standard *
A delight to read . . . Teaches one how to use one's eyes more intelligently. -- Jean Seaton, Chair of Judges, PEN Hessell-Tiltman History Prize
Particularly interesting is the story of Elder Street viewed through architectural sources, taxes and censuses. It acts as a microcosm showing the changes Britain faced over the centuries. * Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine *
This is an elegy to a place changing beyond recognition . . . Cruickshank is an appealing, sympathetic writer. * The Times *
For history lovers, this is an excellent read . . . Cruickshank's meticulous research is breathtaking. * Historical Novel Society *
[Spitalfields'] raffish vitality is derived from the area's long history of embracing immigrants . . . Cruickshank warns that the greatest threat to Spitalfields comes from the ever-encroaching march of tower blocks. -- Must Reads * Daily Mail *
