Show Me the Bodies

***WINNER OF THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING 2023***'Never before, in years of reviewing books about buildings, has one brought me to tears. This one did.' Rowan Moore, Observer Book of the WeekOn 14 June 2017, a 24-storey block of flats went up in flames. The fire climbed up cladding as flammable as solid petrol.

Fire doors failed to self-close. No alarm rang out to warn sleeping residents. As smoke seeped into their homes, all were told to 'stay put'.

Many did - and they died. It was a tragedy decades in the making.