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** This is an archived, static copy of the Casebook messages boards dating from 1998 to 2003. These threads cannot be replied to here. If you want to participate in our current forums please go to https://forum.casebook.org **
East End Then and Now
Casebook Message Boards: Ripper Media: General Discussion:
East End Then and Now
Author: cliffy
Thursday, 11 January 2001 - 01:50 pm |        | | Hi folks. There's a new large-format photography book titled EAST END THEN AND NOW by Winston Ramsey with many east-end street scenes ca 1860-1900, including a section on JTR (which is the main reason I'd be buying it). Has anyone seen/reviewed this book? Is there much on JTR? Many thanks. |
Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Thursday, 11 January 2001 - 02:00 pm | | Hi Cliff -
The Ramsey book is well worth the investment for those interested not only in Jack the Ripper but in the history of the East End as well. The Ripper section is about 12-15 pages last I remember (I am away from my collection right now and can not check) and includes numerous photographs of the crime scenes not published anywhere else.
The book is quite large and widely illustrated. I believe Amazon.co.uk still stocks it at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0900913991/casebojacktherip |
Author: Christopher T George
Thursday, 11 January 2001 - 02:03 pm | | Hi, Cliffy: Viper, our resident expert on the East End, is the one to tell you about this book.
Chris George |
Author: Christopher T George
Thursday, 11 January 2001 - 02:16 pm | | Hi, Cliffy and Spry: Spry you snook in when I was not watching. I am glad you have been able to answer Cliffy's question 
Chris |
Author: The Viper
Friday, 12 January 2001 - 08:17 am | | Stephen’s summary is correct. Though the purchase price of this book is on the high side, it does contain 530 pages on high quality A4 sized paper. The book is well illustrated and indexed.
Winston G. Ramsey is best known as a military historian. His technique has been to visit old battlefields and other conflict zones, photograph them and then compare the pictures to old ones taken at the time of conflict (hence the ‘then and now’ element), the supporting text explaining the relevant events. But in addition to his military speciality, Ramsey is interested in local history. Having strong roots in the East London and West Essex areas he has branched out to produce books such as this one. In East End Then & Now the modern photographs were taken in the mid-1990s with the equivalent historic illustrations variously spanning several centuries. Some of the text is taken from contemporary newspaper reports.
There are about twenty pages dealing specifically with the Whitechapel murders. Though the book contains the odd error (some guy in the old Casebook chatroom once pointed out to me that Ramsey had mis-located the Pinchin Street body) the text is informative and, as Stephen says, the illustrations alone make this book worthwhile to study. Particularly useful are some of the Goad plans of the murder sites.
Covering the area from Aldgate to Leytonstone, this book tackles everything: crime, docks, fascists, gangsters, infrastructure, parks, philanthropists, slums, sport, suffragettes – it’s all in here. Ramsey includes a particularly detailed section about the Blitz, not surprisingly given his background. This book is highly recommended for anybody looking to discover the history and the atmosphere of an area that has changed so much.
Regards, V. |
Author: stephen stanley
Friday, 12 January 2001 - 06:01 pm | | I've read some of the military 'Then & now'books,but did'nt realise this was in the same format...if it's as good as the others' I'll try to get a copy
Steve S. |
Author: cliffy
Saturday, 13 January 2001 - 07:09 pm | | | Thanks fellows! You told me just what I needed to know. I've ordered the book from a US dealer who imported it. It was the only copy I could find in the states. There's another photo book out on the East End, STREETS OF EAST LONDON, by William J. Fishman, that I've also ordered in used condition. I already have a book of photos by John Thomson, VICTORIAN LONDON STREET LIFE, that has excellent reproductions of some East end street life. Especially liked the photo of "Hookey Alf of Whitechapel." Now there's a good candidate for JR!! When you see the photo, you'll know what I mean! |
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