Iain Sinclair’s latest book follows the life of street photographer John Deakin, whose chronicles of bygone Soho life, portraits of bohemian Soho characters and artists are now hailed as pioneering masterpieces. He talks to author and broadcaster Horatio Clare about why Deakin's photographs are timeless, why the Soho he knew is gradually disappearing, and why Deakin remains such a compelling figure.

Iain Sinclair is a British writer, documentarist, film maker, poet, flaneur, metropolitan prophet and urban shaman, keeper of lost cultures and futurologist. His written works include London Orbital; Lights Out For the Territory; Downriver; and The Last London.

Writer and broadcaster Horatio Clare is author of Running for the Hills; A Single Swallow; Down to the Sea in Ships; and Orison for a Curlew, among others. His broadcasting output includes working as an arts radio producer for the BBC.

Photo Iain Sinclair © John Minihan; Photo Horatio Clare © Caroline Flinders