Migrant City
A New History Of London Panikos Panayi Yale University Press, 384 pages, £20
Ever since the city was founded by Roman invaders some 2,000 years ago, the history of London has been a history of immigration. This book covers that period to the present day, when London has immigrants from every part of the world.
The main part of this rich history covers the Irish, Chinese, Jewish and German immigrants in the Victorian period; then the post-Second
World War Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani and African immigrants. The 21st century brought citizens from the European Union. Throughout the story, the children of immigrants become natives and respond to new migrants themselves – not always positively.
Panikos Panayi is the son of Greek Cypriot immigrants, and
writes of being brought up in London with early experience of West Indian classmates and teachers in saris. A professor of European history, he explores how the newcomers have shaped London life with contributions to all sections of the economy and culture, not just corner shops, football clubs and restaurants. Migrants are often associated with manual labour, but they also come as elite bankers. Panayi uses interviews he has undertaken as well as memoirs, autobiographies and biographies, sharing individuals’ personal stories. His book is detailed and well-referenced, and forms a valuable resource for any family historians who have immigrants in their background.
Jad Adams is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and writes our ‘Behind the Headlines’ section every issue – see page 75