Townscape with Figures

Old men outside Argos, commuters twirling umbrellas - these are the images that contribute to Richard Hoggart's picture of Farnham. Usually identified with Leeds and the North, Hoggart went to live in Surrey 20 years ago: this book is partly an affectionate response to the softer South. By looking in detail at one particular place, he builds up a representative picture, directing the reader outwards to general themes: the Health Service, violence on the streets, shopping and the networks that underpin communities and keep them alive.