My East End

Gilda O'Neill was born into a traditional East End family in Bethnal Green. Her nan had a pie and mash shop, her grandfather was a tug skipper on the Thames and her great-uncle was the minder for a gambling den. Her childhood was in a world most of us associate with chirpy cockneys, pub knees-ups, legendary criminals and the Dickensian underworld. Yet here Gilda O'Neill goes beyond the myths of the East End to reveal a far more complex and humane story, from the area's distant past to the strong, close-knit communities of living memory. Gathering together her own memories and the personal recollections of East Enders, she brings us stories of unbelievable hardship and devastating change; yet also of great pride, kindness, courage, resilience and humour. These tales of yesterday provide a fascinating commentary on our ideas of community today, and tell, with wit, warmth and emotion, the real story of life in London's East End.