Estates: An Intimate History

Lynsey Hanley was born and raised on the largest council estate in Europe, and has lived on an estate in London's East End. She writes about the rise of social housing a century ago, its adoption as a fundamental right by social welfare state leaders, and its decline in the 1960s and 70s. Hanley focuses on how shifting trends in urban planning and government policies affected those left out of the argument over council estates, such as the millions of people who live on them.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 07 September 2023
Publisher: Granta Books

Lynsey Hanley, born and raised on the largest council estate in Europe, just outside Birmingham, has spent years residing in an estate in London's East End. With a passion for writing, humor, and a deep understanding of history, she vividly recounts the rise, adoption as a fundamental right, and subsequent decline of social housing over the past century. Hanley delves into how shifting trends in urban planning, government policies, and societal attitudes have impacted the millions of people who call council estates home. From Homes Fit for Heroes to Le Corbusier's concrete tower blocks and the Right to Buy, she explores the intricate connections between these developments and the lives of those often left out of the debate surrounding council estates. What emerges is a captivating blend of memoir and social history, offering an engaging and enlightening perspective on a marginalized aspect of British society.
Lynsey Hanley, born and raised on the largest council estate in Europe, just outside Birmingham, has spent years residing in an estate in London's East End. With a passion for writing, humor, and a deep understanding of history, she vividly recounts the rise, adoption as a fundamental right, and subsequent decline of social housing over the past century. Hanley delves into how shifting trends in urban planning, government policies, and societal attitudes have impacted the millions of people who call council estates home. From Homes Fit for Heroes to Le Corbusier's concrete tower blocks and the Right to Buy, she explores the intricate connections between these developments and the lives of those often left out of the debate surrounding council estates. What emerges is a captivating blend of memoir and social history, offering an engaging and enlightening perspective on a marginalized aspect of British society.

Lynsey Hanley, born and raised on the largest council estate in Europe, just outside Birmingham, has spent years residing in an estate in London's East End. With a passion for writing, humor, and a deep understanding of history, she vividly recounts the rise, adoption as a fundamental right, and subsequent decline of social housing over the past century. Hanley delves into how shifting trends in urban planning, government policies, and societal attitudes have impacted the millions of people who call council estates home. From Homes Fit for Heroes to Le Corbusier's concrete tower blocks and the Right to Buy, she explores the intricate connections between these developments and the lives of those often left out of the debate surrounding council estates. What emerges is a captivating blend of memoir and social history, offering an engaging and enlightening perspective on a marginalized aspect of British society.

Weight: 194g
Dimension: 198 x 127 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783788651