She really did her research and included contributions from an extremely diverse group of current and former residents.Īs much as the content was wonderful, the layout was the worst I've ever had to navigate. The author tells the story of Brick Lane from about 1860 to 2006 and she did a grand job. Why did I persevere? I loved the content. I even had to take a two day break and read something else, (of similar length) in its entirely, before I could pick this back up again. I'm usually a very quick reader but this took me an unusually long time to get through at 10 days. Maybe that is the point!Īggh the frustrating layout of this book almost broke me. This book ranges much more widely, is full of fascinating material, people, views and images, but it is a patchwork, jumping from one thing to another and perhaps leaving one with a bit of a sense of getting nowhere. A previous book, Rodinsky's Room, focuses more closely on the synagogue in Princelet Street and the life of Rodinsky. The author's main interest is in the area as a Jewish place. The name 'refugee' is derived from the refugiers, the Huguenot immigrants who brought silk weaving skills with them when they fled France.

On the edge of the city it is a liminal place, full of newcomers and established residents.

Based on interviews with people who live or lived in Spitalfields as well as many hours spent walking the area alone and with other interested people, Rachel Lichtensein has woven a patchwork book of photos, quotations of many sorts, and stories of the people who have made Brick Lane the fascinating place it has always been. This is a very interesting book in lots of ways.

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