A review by kjcharles
Campbell Bunk: The Worst Street in North London Between the Wars by Jerry White

A fascinating social history of Campbell Street, a horrendous slum, and the lives and struggles of its inhabitants between the 20s and 40s. Absolutely horrifying stuff at points, with the depiction of human degradation and awfulness, but also a kind of exhilarating, stubborn defiance. The first part is hard going because the author is taking a Marxist view of history with associated verbiage, but at least I've finally learned what lumpenproletariat means. Terrific London history from the expert.