Soho, Dan Cruickshank
Soho, Dan Cruickshank
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

Soho
A Street Guide to Soho's History, Architecture and People

Author: Dan Cruickshank

Narrator: Dan Cruickshank, Gordon Griffin

Unabridged: 12 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/14/2019

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

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.

About Dan Cruickshank

Dan Cruickshank is a regular presenter on the BBC best known for his popular BBC Two series THE BEST BUILDINGS OF BRITAIN and WHAT THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION DID FOR US. He is one of Britain's leading architectural and historic building experts.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Pam on October 03, 2021

Cruickshank’s book on Soho is hard for me to rate. I fussed over 3 or 4. The writing is definitely fine and he is an experienced writer on English architecture, an experienced educator and most importantly a preservationist. With those things in mind, I decided on 4 in spite of the fact that I found......more

Goodreads review by Angela on February 04, 2023

Wry passionate about the subject, walk concentrates on architecture. Would be interesting to weave the historical elements into the walk as well. Will be working my way through the streets on lunchtime walks......more