In her latest offering, British author Kate Murray-Browne, an ex-Faber editor, charts the evolution of a single building over a staggering 111 years in Hackney, east London. This tale is a saga of women interweaved with the past of the building. Readers familiar with Murray-Browne’s 2017 debut The Upstairs Room, also set in east London, might expect another unnerving thriller, however, this book offers a subtler form of terror.
The narrative embarks in 1909, focusing on Ellen who, having slipped in social rank, must adjust to a working-class life in a then box factory. By 1984, the factory transforms into a squat, occupied by a group of activists including Frances, an 18-year old. The concluding timeline of 2020 unveils a gentrified neighbourhood, and the building has been redeveloped into a stylish flat where new mum Amanda feels confined.
The novel solidly sets off in 1909, immediately engrossing readers with Ellen as the main character. The era is vividly evoked – the tone and character of the time adeptly captured – making it a delight for historical fiction enthusiasts. Even if the more recent timelines lack the same assertiveness of rhythm, the depiction of each era remains balanced.
The in-depth exploration of the past’s reverberations is executed with care, considering both the building’s history and, crucially, that of its female inhabitants. Despite the clear impact of cultural and societal shifts on their lives, the core of this novel resonates with what unites these women. Their internal struggles are meticulously portrayed with precise detailing of the period, enabling the poignant exploration of perennial issues faced by women throughout different eras.
Overall, Murray-Browne’s endeavour is a robust endorsement of the saying – as much as things change, they often remain the same.