City Literacies explores the lives and literacies of different generations of people living in two contrasting areas of London at the end of the 20th century: Spitalfields and the City. This contrast outwardly symbolizes the huge difference between poverty and wealth existing in Britain at this time. The book presents a study of living, learning and reading as it has taken place in public settings, including the school classroom, clubs, places of worship, theatres, and in the home. Over fifty people recount their memories of learning to read in different contexts and circumstances.

Eve Gregory is Professor of Language and Culture in Education at Goldsmiths College, University of London and Ann Williams is Lecturer in Linguistics at The University of Reading.

Introduction: poverty and illiteracy-the deficit myth PART I Living and learning east of the Aldgate pump 1 Places and peoples 2 Schooling the City PART II Childhood memories of literacy and learning 3 Literacy for survival 4 Literacy for equality 5 Literacy for choice PART III Looking ahead: young literacies, lives and learning 6 Living literacies in homes and communities 7 Learning the literacy of school