If you’ve ever wandered through those East London streets and felt the weight of history in the air, this book will feel like home. If not, it’s your invitation to explore the soul of a place that has always been much more than its postcode.
Dorley-Brown, a self-taught photographer with a lifelong passion for documenting London’s gritty underbelly, brings us a retrospective collection that spans from 1987 to 2023. The book, published in a unique format by Nouveau Palais, is a meticulously curated journey through the ebb and flow of East London’s fortunes. Each photograph is a story, bathed in the nostalgic hues of vintage shades that only deepen with time, much like the area itself.
The book is a stroll through the boroughs, where every corner has witnessed a parade of history. We start at the Thames, where the remnants of the 1980s architecture give way to the new, then move through the urban transformations leading up to the 2012 Olympics. Dorley-Brown’s lens captures the industrial grit, the rise and fall of social housing estates, and the pulse of life on the streets, before concluding on a haunting note with the deserted cityscapes during lockdown – an eerie, yet fitting full circle back to the Thames.
What sets A History of the East End apart, aside from the striking visuals, is Dorley-Brown’s narrative voice. His essays are woven throughout the book, offering more than just context – they’re a witty, insightful guide through the layers of time. His words are as vivid as his images, painting a picture of East London that’s as personal as it is historical. He deftly navigates the cultural landmarks, the gentrification, and the socio-economic shifts with a style that’s both accessible and richly detailed.
In the end, this book is more than a photographic record—it’s a love letter to East London. Dorley-Brown doesn’t just show us what has been; he captures the ongoing cycle of change, the push and pull between progress and preservation. A History of the East End isn’t just for history buffs or photography enthusiasts; it’s for anyone who appreciates the quiet, enduring power of a place that refuses to be forgotten.
Dive in, and let the East End tell you its story – one image at a time.
A History of the East End by Chris Dorley Brown
Published by Nouveau Palais éditions, £30
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