There is one task that obsesses me: bringing to light forgotten, discarded or hidden voices of the past. This concern has led me to strange places – the sewers spaces of Victorian London; the ruins of Chernobyl and Pripyat in Ukraine; abandoned Byzantine cities in Syria; dilapidated gold mines in the mountains of Colorado – and to apparently mundane subjects in nineteenth-century history – sewer maps, gardening catalogues, cab fare books, census forms and London guidebooks. Crossing disciplinary boundaries with abandon, I view research as a creative act, one defined by the reconstruction of lost worlds. Walter Benjamin gave perhaps the best description of this approach to history: rag-picking.
Paul,
Most excellent read “Into the belly of the beast” I recommend it to all.
Rob Barnes, in a warm and sunny Spanish Costa Blanca!
Thanks Rob. Great to hear that you’ve enjoyed my book. Not sunny here in Oxford, sadly! All the best, Paul
Hello Paul,
Would you mind giving me a call, or sending an email? I’m hoping to write an article for the South London Press newspaper about the Driver architecture at London Bridge. I understand that Network Rail isn’t too interested in preserving it. An article might put a little pressure on them to do this – and at least it raises the issue with more South Londoners.
My number is 020 87106437 and I’m a reporter for Southwark. My email is lindsay.burns@slp.co.uk
Kind regards,
Lindsay
Hello Paul,
Please drop me a line – I’m putting together a charity magazine for Community Action Southwark “CAScade” and I wonder if I may use an image of yours – as usual with these things it’s last minute. I’m happy to add a credit such as a link to your site.
Many thanks
Guy
Sure, that’s fine. Is it the London Bridge station photo? Can you credit it to me and also provide a link to the site?
Many thanks
Paul