New Book on Thames Estuary by Local Author

October 5, 2016 by Joanna Harrison

ESTUARY - Out from London to the Sea

Rachel Lichtenstein

Available in Hamish Hamilton hardback, September 22nd 2016 priced £18.99 and as an ebook

An immersive journey into the world of the Thames Estuary and the people who spend their lives there ‘Lichtenstein spends time ashore in coastal towns, gargantuan cargo ports and on perilous mudflats, but she spends much more of it on boats, talking to the sailors who understand the submerged jeopardies of the estuary – the wrecks, tides, currents and sandbanks – better than anybody…taken outside her comfort zone and almost entirely reliant on the expertise of others, she produces possibly her finest book.’

Caught by the River

The Thames Estuary is one of the world's great deltas, providing passage in and out of London for millennia. It is silted up with the memories and artefacts of past voyages. It is the habitat for an astonishing range of wildlife. And for the people who live and work on the estuary, it is a way of life unlike any other - one most would not trade for anything, despites its many dangers.

Rachel Lichtenstein has travelled its length and breadth many times. Here she gathers these experiences in an extraordinary chorus of voices: mudlarkers and fishermen, radio pirates and champion racers, the men who risk their lives out on the water and the women who wait on the shore. Estuary is a thoughtful and intimate portrait of this profoundly international place, both the community and the environment, examining how each has shaped and continues to shape the other.

To see a book trailer for Estuary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gte5pRqVBww

For more information please contact: Anna Ridley +44 207 010 3278 anna.ridley@uk.penguingroup.com

Praise for Estuary

Since its release on 22nd September Estuary has featured on BBC Countryfile (with Matt Baker), BBC London News (Brenda Emmanus), Free Thinking Radio 3, Radio 4 world at One and World Service, Robert Elms Show, BBC London and reviewed widely in the local and national press. It has also been Caught by the River’s book of the month.

‘An electrifying exploration of the estuary… rich in eerie poetry.’ The Spectator

‘A fascinating book, awash with poignant, life-affirming tales, intricate detail and striking imagery.’ Caught by the River

‘Rachel Lichtenstein begins and ends her estuarine adventure by sail, but hers is not a nostalgic journey. Unlike many place writers, she is keen on people, particularly those engaged in labour.’ The New Statesman

‘Rachel Lichtenstein…has assiduously researched her stories of the estuary and unearthed some fascinating material.’ The Literary Review

Praise for Diamond Street

'Vivid and amusing, containing so many sparkling things, elegantly organized. Lichtenstein consulted a whole gang of glorious characters, collecting tales, history and lore on her way. An overwhelming trove of stories with a multiplicity of facets to intrigue' Observer

Praise for On Brick Lane

‘A collage of beady-eyed topographical study, family history and oral testimony… an intriguing, vivid memorial’ Sunday Telegraph

‘A comprehensive, deeply researched portrait of the street… affectionate, absorbing’ New Statesman

Rachel Lichtenstein is an artist, writer and curator. She is the author of Diamond Street: The Hidden World of Hatton Garden, On Brick Lane, Rodinsky's Room, co-authored with Iain Sinclair and other books about the history of London’s east end. She grew up in Southend-on-Sea, then moved to London for a number of years before returning to Leigh-on-Sea where she now lives. Rachel is one of the curators of Estuary, a new biennial arts festival featuring a sixteen day programme of contemporary visual art, literature, film and music running 17 September to 2nd October 2016 in historic venues along the Essex and Kent shorelines.