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This is London

Life and Death in the World City

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This is London

By: Ben Judah
Narrated by: Joe Jameson
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This is London in the eyes of its the homeless, bankers, coppers, gangsters, carers and sex workers.

This is London in the voices of Poles, Arabs, Afghans, Nigerians, Romanians and Russians.

This is London as you've never seen it before.

Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-fiction 2016
Shortlisted for the Ryszard Kapuscinski Award for Literary Reportage 2019

'This Is London is an important and impressive book' Telegraph

'Full of nuggets of unexpected information about the lives of others . . . It recalls the journalism of Orwell' Financial Times

'Ben Judah grabs hold of London and shakes out its secrets' The Economist

 Emigration & Immigration Europe Great Britain Social Sciences Sociology Urban Western Europe Words, Language & Grammar Writing & Publishing England
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Critic reviews

It is hard to overstate the value of what Judah has done . . . This is London is an important and impressive book
An eye-opening investigation into the hidden immigrant life of the city . . . You won't read a more succinct analysis
A revelatory work, full of nuggets of unexpected information about the lives of others . . . [Judah] is a fine, intrepid reporter
Work of this sort really is necessary; this is the stuff we must think about it we are ever to get to grips (assuming it's not too late already) with what lies ahead for our cities. Every MP should be given a copy immediately. On every page lies and uncomfortable truth, in every paragraph sheer horror. It is a book that demonstrably improves the eyesight. Read it, and the streets will look different: I guarantee it. Above all, more than I can possibly say, I admired its author's pluck, determination, compassion and refusal to judge - and I'd like him to know that some of the stories he told will haunt me for a long time to come (Rachel Cooke)
Judah has succeeded in opening reader's eyes to the hardships experienced by many and ignored by most
This truly extraordinary book is as raw, powerful, unflinching, witty, engaging, shocking, in-your-face and occasionally both heartwarming and heartbreaking as the great but complex and flawed city it chronicles. I've lived in London for three decades yet found something I didn't know about it on virtually every page (Andrew Roberts, author of Napoleon the Great)
Having spent the last year meeting people along several of the world's busiest migration trails, it is fascinating to read Ben Judah's powerful account of where some of them end up. Judah has created an alternative and essential guide to London, and Londoners, in 2015.' (Patrick Kingsley)
Mesmerising, trenchant and deeply compassionate (Book of the Month)
A vital, almost overwhelming panorama of brutality and injustice
Ben Judah offers no answers; but bears witness. He reports the stories of London's immigrants with a smart mind, a light touch and a brave and compassionate heart. These statements deserve to be heard. This is London is an important, state of the nation, eye-opening report from our increasingly ghettoized capital city (Dan Boothby, author of Island of Dreams)
This Is London is an exhilarating account of the British capital . . . His writing is visceral, and at its best echoes the immersive style of the great Polish reporter and author Ryszard Kapuscinski . . . He treats his subjects with great sensitivity . . . an important, unflinching piece of reportage. Judah digs deep into parts of London that a less adventurous journalist would avoid, unearthing some of the many tragic narratives shaping a city at the turbulent forefront of globalisation
All stars
Most relevant
I loved reading all the information, truth of the hidden London which I suspected existed but never saw with my own eyes.

Well researched, truthful and brave

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Way the different cultures were described, using accents,and descriptions of dress,brought the characters to life.

The change in London since I lived there in 1960.

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I can’t say I enjoyed this book, it was very painful listening but at the same time I couldn’t put it down. Ben Judah admits the complete transformation of our society and instead of reacting like a little Hitler (Farage, Douglas Murray etc) he dives in an explores the World of the new Londoners. It makes bleak reading these people have made very painful journeys and are carrying scars that are still having a knock on effect. My criticism of the book is that there was hardly a happy story in it at all, yet I know of many very happy successful immigrant families with tighter more loving communities than those of the native population.
Our Governments use of the immigrant card is disgraceful and eye openers like this book will hopefully do something to build bridges across a divided London.

A Painful Read

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These interviews show sides of London I had little knowledge of. Some really shocking stories. A depressing book but it needs to be read by everyone. Very well narrated.

A book that makes you think

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