Rizal chose to live in London for 3 years to improve his English, study Morga's book on Philippine history, and continue his fight against Spanish tyranny from a safe place. He stayed with the Beckett family and fell in love with their daughter Gertrude. In London, he wrote articles defending the Noli Me Tangere and contributed pieces to publications. He also grew close to the Filipino community in Europe and supported the new newspaper La Solidaridad. Missing his family and friends, he sadly left London in March 1889 to continue his work in Paris.