The Book of Birmingham
Author | : Kit de Waal |
Publisher | : Comma Press |
Total Pages | : 144 |
Release | : 2018-09-27 |
ISBN-10 | : 9781912697168 |
ISBN-13 | : 1912697165 |
Rating | : 4/5 (165 Downloads) |
Download or read book The Book of Birmingham written by Kit de Waal and published by Comma Press. This book was released on 2018-09-27 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Few cities have undergone such a radical transformation over the last few decades as Birmingham. Culturally and architecturally, it has been in a state of perpetual flux and regeneration, with new communities moving in, then out, and iconic post-war landmarks making way for brighter-coloured, 21st century flourishes. Much like the city itself, the characters in the stories gathered here are often living through moments of profound change, closing in on a personal or societal turning point, that carries as much threat as it does promise. Set against key moments of history – from Malcolm X’s visit to Smethwick in 1965, to the Handsworth riots two decades later, from the demise of the city’s manufacturing in the 70s and 80s, to the on-going tensions between communities in recent years – these stories celebrate the cultural dynamism that makes this complex, often divided ‘second city’ far more than just the sum of its parts.