Rachel Lichtenstein

Guest: Rachel Lichtenstein-  an artist, archivist and writer. She is the author of Rodinsky’s
Whitechapel and co-author, with Iain Sinclair, of Rodinsky’s Room.

On Brick Lane is the first of a trilogy of books by Rachel Lichtenstein on London streets and will
be followed by volumes on Hatton Garden and Portobello Road, both also to be published by Hamish
Hamilton.

Books

On Brick Lane by Rachel Lichtenstein
Brick Lane today is a place of extremes – a street that's constantly reinventing itself. Blending
history and reportage with personal testimony and urban myths, and interspersing these with maps
and photography, On Brick Lane is a one-of-a-kind chronicle of one of London's most remarkable
streets.

Bringing to life the memories and realities of Brick Lane's many communities, Rachel Lichtenstein
harnesses the voices of the famous, the infamous and the obscure, merging memoir, reportage, poetry,
photography and local history. The result is as vibrant and fascinating as the neighbourhood it so
movingly celebrates.

Children of the Ghetto by Israel Zangwill
In 1892 he published his best-known work, Children of the Ghetto, an epic tale of Jewish life in
London, describing both the poverty of the East End and the wealthy lives of the established Jews
in the West End. Zangwill drew on his experiences of growing up in Whitechapel to draw a detailed
and understanding picture of the lives of the immigrants.

Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse
Narcissus and Goldmund is the story of a young man, Goldmund, who wanders around aimlessly throughout
Medieval Germany after leaving a Catholic monastery school in search of what could be described as
"the meaning of life", or rather, meaning for his life. Narcissus, a gifted young teacher at the
cloister school, quickly makes friends with Goldmund, as they are only a few years apart, and
Goldmund is naturally bright. Goldmund looks up to Narcissus, and Narcissus has much fondness for
him in return. After straying too far in the fields one day, on an errand gathering herbs, Goldmund
comes across a beautiful woman, who kisses him and invites him to make love. This encounter becomes
his epiphany, and he then knows he was never meant to be a monk. Goldmund is filled with the desire
to experience everything, learn about life and nature in his own hands-on way. With Narcissus'
support, he leaves the monastery and wanders around the countryside, setting the scene for a story
that contrasts the artist with the thinker. It spans many years, detailing specific incidents where
Goldmund learns important things, and he often muses on these experiences and the ways of life.

Other books mentioned were- Frank Norman's 'Bang to Rights' and 'The Guntz' and 'The Great Gatsby'
by F.Scott Fitzgerald.