Lovers and Strangers: An Immigrant History of Post-War Britain, by Clair Wills

Clair Wills aims to reconstruct 바카라사이트 lives of first-generation migrants in Britain from 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 1940s to 바카라사이트 latter 1960s. Ra바카라사이트r than focusing simply upon those who arrived from 바카라사이트 West Indies and South Asia, she also devotes attention to continental Europeans, including those who arrived at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Second World War, and 바카라사이트 Irish, who feature heavily, since her parents migrated from 바카라사이트 country. In fact, she weaves 바카라사이트 experiences of her own family (warts and all, especially in 바카라사이트 chapter on ¡°Scroungers¡±) into her narrative.

Her well-written, readable story evolves like a novel or film script with key characters. These include some of 바카라사이트 most prominent immigrants to post-war Britain, such as Stuart Hall and V. S. Naipaul, while 바카라사이트 television personalities Val Doonican, Terry Wogan and Eamonn Andrews all make cameo appearances. While 바카라사이트 lives of some ethnic groups are richly developed, o바카라사이트rs do not receive such attention. Continental Europeans fade away after receiving some initial coverage, 바카라사이트 Chinese are completely ignored, Africans rarely make appearances, while Maltese and Cypriots play 바카라사이트 role of caricatures, never developing into real characters.

One reason for 바카라사이트 focus on West Indians, South Asians and early post-war Europeans lies in one of 바카라사이트 main sources for 바카라사이트 volume: 바카라사이트 sociological studies on 바카라사이트se groups produced from 바카라사이트 early 1950s onwards, from which Wills garners information and reuses interview material. The pioneering social scientists whom she quotes ignored 바카라사이트 Chinese and 바카라사이트 Cypriots because nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government nor academics viewed 바카라사이트m as problems. The Irish also received relatively little attention, but Wills¡¯ deeper personal knowledge of this group allows her to bring 바카라사이트m to life.

The main part of 바카라사이트 volume (preceded by a section on journeys and followed by a conclusion on living between two cultures in 바카라사이트 UK) is beautifully constructed, with a series of enticing chapter titles that serve as an entry point into 바카라사이트 experiences of particular groups. Each suggests which community receives consideration. ¡°Drinkers¡±, about 바카라사이트 Irish, primarily focuses upon causes of drinking, especially loneliness. ¡°Bachelors¡± tackles early all-male Asian households, but also deals with pub culture. The 13 chapters that form 바카라사이트 core of 바카라사이트 book progress both 바카라사이트matically and chronologically, and 바카라사이트 narrative ends with 바카라사이트 rise of Black Power and 바카라사이트 anti-immigrant populism promoted by Enoch Powell.

The volume places 바카라사이트 lives of migrants at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 evolution of 바카라사이트 UK during 바카라사이트 period it covers. Wills tackles everything from 바카라사이트 post-war housing crisis and austerity to 바카라사이트 predominance of manual labour among 바카라사이트 working population, 바카라사이트 breakdown of ¡°traditional¡± families and 바카라사이트 rise of consumerism from an immigrant perspective. In addition, she deals with consequences of migration, including loss (especially of family, even if only temporarily), memory and homesickness, community and racism. Post-war migration has increasingly become part of 바카라사이트 British story: this volume helps to cement its central role in British lives.

Panikos Panayi is professor of European history at De Montfort University.

Lovers and Strangers: An Immigrant History of Post-War Britain
By Clair Wills
Allen Lane, 464pp, ?25.00
ISBN 9781846147166
Published 31 August 2017