Carefully weaving together social theory and ethnographic actuality, effortlessly shifting gears between grand narratives and the quips and asides of her wide-ranging informants, Hocking's The Great Reimagining acts not only as an excellent addition to academic work on public art, the creative city, and post-conflict resolution, but also as a perfect example of the unrivalled qualities that ethnographic research can provide. · Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
This is a timely, relevant and thorough examination of how urban space is constructed and contested in post-conflict Northern Ireland. Hocking shows through deft engagement with ethnographic and documentary material how post-Good Friday Agreement policy has been dominated by attempts to create spaces that are amenable to tourists and capital, but also the limits of such initiatives in a context where ethno-national division remains a salient feature of everyday life for many. · Peter Geoghegan, University of Edinburgh