A Devilish Kind of Courage: Anarchists, Aliens and the Siege of Sidney Street

On January 3, 1911, police in London's Jewish East End discovered Latvian revolutionaries sought for the murder of three officers. A six-hour gunfight ensued, with Winston Churchill, then Home Secretary, ordering the blaze not to be extinguished. Two charred bodies were found, and Peter the Painter, the ringleader, remained at large. This episode, known as the 'Siege of Sidney Street,' sparked nationwide debates on immigration, political extremism, and law enforcement. This book explores the siege, Latvian émigrés, and their connections to the East End's anarchist movement.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 01 March 2024
Publisher: Reaktion Books

On January 3, 1911, in the heart of London's predominantly Jewish East End, police stumbled upon a group of Latvian revolutionaries sought for the brutal murder of three officers. What followed was a six-hour gunfight, as the besieged building caught fire, consuming it in flames. At the scene, Winston Churchill, then the Home Secretary, arrived and ordered the fire to be left unchecked. After the chaos subsided, two charred bodies were discovered, with the elusive Peter the Painter, believed to be the ringleader, still at large. This captivating episode, known as the 'Siege of Sidney Street,' became a nationwide sensation, igniting intense debates on immigration to Britain, political extremism, and law enforcement. This book delves into the full story of the siege, the Latvian émigrés, and their deep connections to the vibrant anarchist movement thriving in London's East End.

On January 3, 1911, in the heart of London's predominantly Jewish East End, police stumbled upon a group of Latvian revolutionaries sought for the brutal murder of three officers. What followed was a six-hour gunfight, as the besieged building caught fire, consuming it in flames. At the scene, Winston Churchill, then the Home Secretary, arrived and ordered the fire to be left unchecked. After the chaos subsided, two charred bodies were discovered, with the elusive Peter the Painter, believed to be the ringleader, still at large. This captivating episode, known as the 'Siege of Sidney Street,' became a nationwide sensation, igniting intense debates on immigration to Britain, political extremism, and law enforcement. This book delves into the full story of the siege, the Latvian émigrés, and their deep connections to the vibrant anarchist movement thriving in London's East End.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789148442