'A rich, lively and nostalgia-provoking sensory experience ... this is history in its messiest, most bustling human essence' THE TIMES'Like being in the company of a chatty, trusted friend' LUCY WORSLEY'Impeccably researched and searingly nostalgic' DAILY MAILBustling with rich detail, historical vignettes and surprising wares, this is the story of Britain's best-loved but ever-changing public spaces. What makes a high street? It's not just the shopping; these are spaces where local life and culture unfold, the beating hearts of our towns and cities.From preserved medieval marketplaces to post-war concrete precincts, our high streets are playgrounds of personal indulgence, hubs for community spirit, sites of contentious debates and public politicking. Join historian Annie Gray on an expedition down the street and through the ages, through arcades, department stores and backstreet shopping malls.Peeping through the windows of tailors, tea rooms and grocers, Gray writes an essential reflection on how we lived in days gone by - and what the future might bring.