Absolute Beginners (Allison & Busby Classics)

I was introduced to "Absolute Beginners" in the early 1980's through my admiration of Paul Weller, the lead singer and songwriter of The Jam, one of the greatest British rock bands of all time. The bands single of the same name remains one of my favorite tracks, and decades later, I finally got around to reading this novel. Much like Paul Weller, the late author Colin MacInnes, writes in a style so full of British slang and mannerisms, that you feel you really are in London in 1959 as you fall in love with this book and its cast of colorful characters. The story takes you on a fast paced trip through London, where you meet many interesting people, get a feel of different neighborhoods and an understanding of family, race, culture and class issues that are a part of human nature today. If you want to read a great story and feel the inspiration of youth, buy this book and spread the spirit of Absolute Beginners everywhere!

This arrived today. My initial reaction is that these are troubled people. Our unamed narrator and his friends don't even sound like teenagers, but adult grifters instead. He seems to know one person from every minority- one Teddyboy, one lesbian, one prostitute ,one bourgeois successful Jewish couple- though Jews are extremely frequent here- our narrator assumes himself to be of the tribes. Because of all his token acquaintances, the book doesn't feel believable- instead symbolizing the expanding of minorities coming into England, as the w.a.s.p. was seeming to longer be at the top of the pyramid. And it made me angry. Our narrator is an ignorant know-it-all, smugly thinking himself better than anyone else. I don't think that anyone here is a sympathetic character- the victims of the Nottingham riots are nameless, but the real victims here.I still think that this is an important book-if you're interested in how England got where she is today

The unnamed narrator here is going on 19 in late ‘50s London.He’s ignorant, arrogant and thinks the world of himself. Which doesn’t sound too promising. Fortunately, the novel is carried along by a certain verve that only occasionally lets you down.The author was on to something.He caught on to the fact that London had entered into a period of great change.First off the city’s racial composition was changing as people from the Caribbean and Africa were moving in .Second , a youth culture was developing in the city. He offers a specific thesis about this youth culture. It was a product of post war, post austerity prosperity. Teenagers had money and advertisers and those with products to sell wanted it.If you knew nothing about the author, you’d probably assume he was under 30 and the book somewhat autobiographical. Surprisingly he was over 40 and the only sense in which this could be seen as autobiographical is if we see the unamed narrator and main character as a kind of fantasy of the what the author may have wished he was- a thought I find plausible.Even though the book is at times awkward as a novel. It is an interesting social history document.Unfortunately, the author has his limitations. His characterizations tend to be skin deep. The only character he really develops is unnamed narrator and there are some glaring inconsistencies here.For the first third of the book Unnamed is portrayed as a cocky know it all with no respect for the upper class, middle class or working class. Then he visits his alleged friend Manny.In the presence of Manny his brain positively explodes with worshipful thoughts.In the context of this character, it’s bizarre.Manny is the most stolid and solid bourgeois in the book.Oh , there’s some jib jab about his being a prize winning poet but that has a window dressing feel about it. Manny is supposed to be only 20 and on to his second apparently blissful marriage to a perfect woman. He works for the family business. All fine with me but why is Mr No Name wise ass scorner of the middle class so impressed? The answer - and it’s weird- is Manny is Jewish? No name isn’t Jewish nor was the author. But inNo Names eyes this seems to transform Manny into some magical creature.Such a contrast to repressed stiff upper lip English people. Except there aren’t any stiff upper class English people in this book except maybe Manny. The characters are raifissh demimonde types.Yet no name has decided Manny is a sort of unmelted ethnic life force in the Zorba the Greek tradition.Manny even offers No Name herring! This scene is utterly ridiculous and patronizing.After this No Name decides he’s madly in love with his sometime pornograhic model Crepes Suezette.(Yes ,that’s what she’s called).Crepes is 17 , sexually fixated on Black men and wants to marry a gay guy who’s 28 years older than her. Obviously she’s a great catch for no name who’s concluded they should get married.The later part of the book focuses on the 1958 Notting Hill race riots and I wish it had ended there.Unfortunately, the author tacks on a stupid ending where No Name is hanging around an airport with a ticket to Oslo but maybe isn’t going to go.A mess of a book but a somewhat worthwhile one.

Gushing effusive tale of youth from a ringside seat on a roller coaster of filled with delerious enthusiasm or petrifying dread, like a point of view with a personal tone that is difficult if not impossible to deny. Good read!

A book of its time tells the story of the beginning of the teenage phenomenon in England in the 1950s. It deals with social issues such as the race riots which occurred in London in the 50s. Written in the teenage/beatnik language of the times. There are two main characters the 19 year old hip narrator and the city of London itself.

A piece of History that few of us ever knew happened. Mr McInnes's writing easily lends itself to visualization if the events. I also saw the movie but it was far different than the book. I believe I enjoyed the book more than a little bit more.

I first read Absolute Beginners whilst living in the next suburb in London in the 60's so could relate to the events in the book. I really enjoyed reading this novel again.And can recommend this author for a well written story.

MacInnes captures perfectly the atmosphere and energy of late 50s London. His writing has energy and wit. This book is more than fifty years old, but sounds more vibrant than then majority of contemporary writers. Don't be influenced by Julien Temple's lackluster movie. Check out the source.

Colin MacInnes tale is set in 1958 London, at a time of increasing prosperity, youthful exuberance and sexual emancipation. It describes a culture of "absolute beginners", teenagers who for the first time had money as well as youth on their side. They were looking for a fresh start, a world as different as possible from that of the adult "taxpayers" who ran society.The book follows an unnamed narrator, a freelance photographer and jazz fan, as he meanders through a kaleidoscopic gallery of characters and situations over four separate days during the year leading up to his 19th birthday. Although there is a plot of sorts, the narrator really functions as a tour guide who can take the reader to places in London and introduce us to people we might otherwise never meet. The book was probably shocking at the time; the narrator shoots pornographic photos for a living and his friends include prostitutes, pimps, druggies and characters from the gay scene. There are surprising parallels with modern England; a recession is coming to an end and there are concerns about uncontrolled immigration leading to race riots. The writing fizzes with the language, optimism, arrogance and insouciance of youth - altho the narrator admits to wishing that he'd been better educated - as well as memorable descriptions of the Soho jazz scene.The book reminded me of some of David Bowie's early songs from the 1960s, particularly The London Boys and Maid of Bond Street. It's probably no coincidence that Bowie wrote the title track and appeared in the movie adaptation of Absolute Beginners. I don't think it's a 'great book', but it was an easy and enjoyable read and I'm glad to have visited MacInnes' London scene and met his cast of characters.

If, like me, you haven't looked at Macinnes ' masterpiece since the 80s, then I urge you to reread it now. Post-Grenfell and in the midst of the Windrush horror show, it has as much power now as ever.

I read the book as it fitted into the era I was trying to recapture. A good read, if a little difficult to "tune" into the writer's narrative immediately. Lots of descriptive word substitutions, and altered phrasing.Caught the period well, although not quite how I remembered it, living in Mitcham! Far more exotic...........Anyone interested in the early sixties should enjoy the read.

Having enjoyed books by his brother, Graham, I was keen to read the "other" Macnnes and was not disappointed. It is an edgy tale of London life at the beginning of the "rock" age and the rise of "teenagerism". Not everyone's "cup of tea" but tales based on social history definitely appeal to me.

Famous in its day I wondered whether this book would survive as a classic. It is so well written that although it is a bit slow moving, anyway by modern standards, it keeps the attention throughout. A very enjoyable re-read.