London: Immigrant City

by Nazneen Khan-Østrem

TRANSLATED BY ALISON McCULLOUGH

'One of the best books on the many diverse migrations to London . . . revealing the extent to which the diversity of immigrant origins has had transformative effects - through food, music, diverse types of knowledge and so much more. The book is difficult to put it down'
Saskia Sassen, The Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology, Columbia University, New York

'The ultimate book about Great Britain's capital'
Dagbladet

'One of the best books of the year! . . . This is a book about what a city is and can be'
Aftenposten


Is there a street in London which does not contain a story from the Empire? Immigrants made London; and they keep remaking it in a thousand different ways. Nazneen Khan-Østrem has drawn a wonderful new map of a city that everyone thought they already knew.

She travels around the city, meeting the very people who have created a truly unique metropolis, and shows how London's incredible development is directly attributable to the many different groups of immigrants who arrived after the Second World War, in part due to the Nationality Act of 1948. Her book reveals the historical, cultural and political changes within those communities which have fundamentally transformed the city, and which have rarely been considered alongside each other.

Nazneen Khan-Østrem has a cosmopolitan background herself, being a British, Muslim, Asian woman, born in Nairobi and raised in the UK and Norway, which has helped her in unravelling the city's rich immigrant history and its constant ongoing evolution.

Drawing on London's rich literature and its musical heritage, she has created an intricate portrait of a strikingly multi-faceted metropolis. Based on extensive research, particularly into aspects not generally covered in the wide array of existing books on the city, London manages to capture the city's enticing complexity and its ruthless vitality.

This celebration of London's diverse immigrant communities is timely in the light of the societal fault lines exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit. It is a sensitive and insightful book that has a great deal to say to Londoners as well as to Britain as a whole.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, London

302 pages, Hardcover

Published July 1, 2021

Reviews

[Ms Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting in parts. I particularly enjoyed reading about the Irish, Jewish and Italian history and current cultures in London. I also found the sections on Russian and West African cultures in London interesting.

I did find the chapters under the heading of 'Indian London' disappointing, however - surprising, as the author is of this heritage ( one of her parents. ) I found the chapter on Brick Lane particularly disappointing, as this is an area I love and have visited from the '80s. I guess I'd have liked more interviews with those who live and work there from less affluent backgrounds, e.g. Bangladeshis who live in the council/ housing association flats nearby or those that work in restaurants there, rather than focusing so much on the political history. That is, indeed, important, of course, but to me, the history of people who are just running 'normal' run of the mill lives is vital into really understanding an area.

[Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

A love letter to London and the immigrant communities that have helped shape the city into what it is. The author travels around the city meeting lots of different people from the communities highlighted in the book and how those communities have transformed the city historically, culturally and politically throughout the 20th century leading up until today and Brexit and Covid-19.

London contains at least fifty ethnic groups with a population of at least 10,000 individuals but the immigrant populations that the book focuses on are the Irish, Jews, Italians, West Indians, West Africans, those from the Indian subcontinent, Arabs, Russians and the Poles.

It's difficult to compress so much into 30-40 page sections -split into 3-4 chapters within those sections - and expect to include everything about something as complex as immigration and the impact it had on those people and their new city. Especially as the author interviews a wide array of people from many different sections of society, not necessarily scholars or historians specialising in this subject. So I did find some chapters lacking a bit of a substance.

3.5* and as a resident of London and grandchild of immigrants I'll round it up to 4.

[kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

i adored this book. written by an author who has a first hand knowledge of london, but who straddles the line between being a londoner and being an outsider, a sentiment consistently felt and explained throughout all of the accounts by members of cultural groups throughout the city in this book. the personal account and her style of writing adds a layer that both shows that awe and dazzlement of london and recognition of its racist, problematic, and difficult histories and current existence both do truely exist. she balances an equally opinionated and inside perspective of these groups with an objective contextual history of immigration and the social, political, and economic factors that influence movements to and between places of origin. it felt like a guide giving a personalized tour. i really appreciated that, even as a history lover. she balanced the historical context and modern perceptions so well. it was an engaging read i kept excitedly coming back to on daily tube rides around the city! absolutely a great basic insight into the many hearts of the city while i settle in and move here :)

[Bilal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read, and interesting to hear about how different communities arrived and became established in London - but did think the tone was kinda condescending at times 🤷🏾 and there were some rogue statements in there...like dropping in the 'Arab London' chapter that many Muslim Londoners approved of 9/11??? Bizarre

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and chatty love letter to London and its ethnic diversity, not only highly readable but passionate in its insistence that immigrants are what make London great. London: Immigrant City reminded me that although I have lived in the British capital (an immigrant myself) for 20 years, there are huge parts of the city I know nothing about, let alone the distinct ethnic or national cultural flavors they have. It’s praise for the book that it made me want to go out and explore more of the city, including quite a few restaurants that Khan-Østrem name checks.
Kudos also to translator Alison McCullough - disclosure, I am friends with the author and introduced her to one of the characters in the book - and reading the book in translation from Norwegian sounds exactly like listening to Nazneen speak.
Recommended for its warm heartedness and its wisdom.

[Kanami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is pretty interesting from perspective of my nation(I'm from Japan). I didn't recognize that London is such an diversity city few hundred languages are spoken and many ethics are there! And this book is telling us the some backstory to make London international city and what it has been happening since it got started. There are human histories, human voices and thoughts to London. You're gonna dig it down deeply and have some feelieg for from depends on your situation!!!
I'm really curious your background and how have you found this book!!

[myslikova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed some of the parts, esp about the Irish, Russian and Poles.
The way of writing was a bit too predictable for me (every ending came as the author walked to a Tube station, or leave a certain street, thinking about something seemingly far-sighted.)
Still a good overview of a lot of the lives of immigrants.

[nomitnnamssarg · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10

This book is a really lovely trip through London and its many different parts where many different people live. Khan-Østrem captures the spirit of these districts very well, as well as their people. An interesting read that reflects London’s diversity in great detail.

[Lewis Ngugi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a year to read this as I also experienced the city of London. The writing style is so immersive! Thanks for the history lessons and stories from fellow Immigrants and Migrants 🎉

[Mary-Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Underwhelming. I had high hopes for this book but it feel short of my expectations. The subject matter is so rich, and I was really looking forward to discovering more about how different waves of immigrants experienced London and influenced the city we have today.

The writer attempts to address stereotypes attached to each demographic (Irish alcoholism, the Italian mafia, young men of Caribbean descent being involved in South London gangs, Arabic money launderers, Russian spies, Polish racists) but analysis lacks depth. Merely making a passing comment on these stereotypes, or asking one person from the relevant background about it doesn't really do anything impactful.

Even the references to businesses I found quite shallow. e.g. in the Caribbean chapters Rum Kitchen gets a shoutout when Rum Kitchen was founded by 2 white men in 2013, it's hardly a Caribbean institution. Similarly Costa Coffee gets a mention in the Italian chapters.

The writing can lack focus and jump around from topic to topic e.g. The writer is in Soho talking about Bar Italia, then moves to Soho's past involvement with the sex industry, then onto Chinatown and the Chinese' influence (who don't get their own chapter) then to the writer's experience of the 1980's Soho punk scene before coming back to the present moment in Bar Italia all within one paragraph. It makes me wonder what point the writer is trying to make. Skimming over these topics in a couple of sentences isn't satisfying to the reader, it doesn't teach anything, and it isn't particularly interesting because there is little detail.

I learnt some new information in the Italian chapters (SS Arandora Star) but a cursory Google of Berto Rossi brought up his Wikipedia page where I found that the information had been lifted almost word for word - even schoolchildren know not to copy from Wikipedia when doing their homework!

TLDR: Overall, it was okay. I learnt a few new things but the book lacked depth and was quite patronising at times. It might suit those who don't know much about London and want a general overview or young adult readers.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant, lovingly written dedication to the diversity, culture and personal stories of immigrants in London. I don’t think I’ve ever felt such a personal connection to the characters - well, real people - in a book. It will resonate deeply to anyone else who has lived a big part of their lives as a minority.

[Saturnia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly I like the book, but I do wonder how Nazneen Khan-Ostrem feels about her fairly hagiographic depiction of Mohamed (Al) Fayed (“charismatic”, “hard work and countless hours”) given the more recent revelations about his well documented behaviour to women who were not in a position to fight back. Otherwise, this is an interesting and well researched view of immigrant Londoners, written with an obvious love of the city and its peoples. It is also a piece of its time, and therefore a reminder that as is always the case with London, nothing is certain and everything will change.