http://www.amazon.co.uk/Borough-Market-Book-Roots-Renaissance/dp/1904104908

http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/

The hub and life in any city is found at its market place, so whenever I get an opportunity to visit a city I invariably head for the market. An early morning visit is always the best time to capture some great photography, the traders setting up, the camaraderie, the banter and the progressive hassle and bustle of activities as the day goes on.

The Borough Market Book is an easy read - it includes an eclectic mix of food writing, anecdotes, biographies, and recipes; successfully conveying the vibrant and bustling atmosphere of what is arguably the best market that London can offer. The pages are filled with some excellent colour photography by renowned food and travel photographer Jason Lowe who has contributed to many cook books as well as a regular column in the Independent.

The book includes a chapter showing old and interesting photos tracing the origins of the market and the surrounding area of Southwark these explore the relationship between the old and the new and the part it now plays in its current setting.
My favorites are the B&W portraits : mixed with the food photography, the contributions from the market stallholders and chefs who shop there as well as the historical snippets make this book a great testament to the uniqueness of this market.

Borough Market has its origins on London Bridge around the 11th century; it then moved to Borough High Street and was granted a charter in 1550 by the City of London. Its popularity ensured that an Act of Parliament in 1754 moved the market to its current premises to ease congestion on market days. Borough Market still remains a very important area of London life and one, which should be preserved and documented - as the forward to the book points out the market - notwithstanding its recent rise in popularity, remains under threat from developers and the plans for the Thameslink rail expansion.

It is easy to see why the market is so popular - despite its unusual setting it is a market that caters to a wide public - be it local or from outside London. Borough Market is a cultural caldron for the foodie and a good place for those looking for that rare ingredient: from Indian spices to conserves manufactured by Italian trappist monks, the stalls are a supply of items ranging from the everyday ingredients to the unusual and hard to find.

To the very formulaic approach of books on food and cooking in my possession, the Borough Market Book is a refreshing alternative and I am glad to have this great book on my bookshelf.

The book and its photography will perhaps inspire you to pay a visit (with your camera) - chances are that you will take home with you more than just some delicious goodies.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008 at 10:22 pm and is filed under Review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.