Soho, London's most colourful and cosmopolitan district, is being redeveloped, and its long-established residential community is fast disappearing. This account of the area's history uses the unique memories of its current inhabitants, emphasizes its social and cultural diversity and examines its notoriety. It covers the 17th century, when Soho was a fashionable neighbourhood, and the 18th century during which it became a slum district. Its role as a centre of immigrant life is also investigated. Judith Summers is a registered London tourist guide and a freelance journalist.