THE LONDON BOYS | DAVID BOWIE, MARC BOLAN & THE 60s TEENAGE DREAM

 

TITLE - THE LONDON BOYS | DAVID BOWIE, MARC BOLAN & THE 60s TEENAGE DREAM

WRITTEN BY - MARC BURROWS

GENRE - '60s BRITISH MUSIC/BIOGRAPHY

PUBLISHED BY - PEN & SWORD 

PUBLICATION DATE - 30TH OCTOBER 2022

“The London Boys” is a penetratingly thorough history of the deep but often turbulent friendship/rivalry between the nascent rock stars David Bowie and Marc Bolan, from their early years to their eventual first flush of fame. The introduction sets the scene with a depiction of the historic yet chaotic reconciliation of Bowie and Bolan on the latter’s TV show “Marc”, mere days before his death. The book evokes the shattered post-WWII London landscape that both Bolan and Bowie grew up in through vivid descriptions, and explores how the city and its rapid cultural development in the ‘60s shaped their future careers. 

On the whole, “The London Boys” is a very detailed and workmanlike biography of both legends, but also a deep and intoxicating (it may even be eye-opening to a millennial reader) social history of Britain and its cultural heritage and development, hugely influenced by American music. There are also some very entertaining footnotes in which many myths are busted. Special mention must be given to chapter nineteen which has a unique structure that got made this old Bowie fan giddily excited, but you’ll have to read it yourself to find out why. 

A dense, deep book but immensely scholarly and readable, with an uplifting ending (really, “the beginning”) “The London Boys” is an original, fabulous and moving, even slightly irreverent, addition to the written history of both artists, both of whom burst from the page so vividly that we get to know them better than ever.

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HAROLD WILSON | THE WINNER

TITLE - HAROLD WILSON | THE WINNER

WRITTEN BY - NICK THOMAS-SYMONDS

GENRE - POLITICS/BIOGRAPHY/BRITISH HISTORY

PUBLISHED BY - W&N

PUBLICATION DATE - AVAILABLE NOW 

I’ve always been fascinated by this period of Britain’s political history as it was a little before my time, even as a child of the ‘70s. At such a young age I had no concept of politics and the shenanigans going on in the country (but I knew Harold Wilson smoked a pipe). So, when I heard about Nick Thomas-Symonds’ book I saw an opportunity to fill the gaps in my knowledge. However, I should add that due to my being unfamiliar with the political history of the time, I am not in a position to comment on the author’s conclusions about Wilson’s policies etc. I am simply reviewing the book on its merits as a biography.

Symonds has had unprecedented access to Harold Wilson’s handwritten notes, letters and various other papers which have been hitherto unavailable, which have enabled him to perform a timely reevaluation of one of the most progressive Prime Ministers the United Kingdom has ever had, dealing with issues that will resonate today - membership of the EEC, women’s rights, British involvement in conflicts overseas etc.

An academic youngster with an exemplary record of scholastic achievement, with an unwavering childhood dream to go into politics and become Prime Minister, (a prescient photo shows the young Harold outside No. 10 Downing Street) Wilson leads an almost charmed life to get to the position he is best remembered for. He was, it seems, always the “winner” of the book’s title. Even the seemingly spontaneous quips and retorts in the Commons that he became famous for were the result of determined hard work and practice, having been accused of giving stuffy and boring speeches.

Symonds recounts Wilson’s political career in riveting detail, and whilst the political jargon can get complex at times, he has an accessible style that shouldn’t put off the casual reader without a grounding in politics. Much more fluid and easier to read than I expected, but not lightweight by any means, “The Winner” is an enjoyable and informative book, but not without its faults. I frequently got the impression that the author believes Wilson could do no wrong and that any failures or shortcomings in the Wilson government were the fault of other people. At times the book borders on hagiography. The reader is left in no doubt that NT-S is a big fan, even taking into account the fact he is a Labour MP, and I think it will be a matter of personal opinion whether this impresses or grates.

Overall, NT-S does a thorough job of reassessing Harold Wilson for a new generation and giving him his due credit for the enduring societal changes he brought about; he also humanises and rediscovers Wilson for those born too late to see him in action. This was truly a different time: today it generally follows that if you lose an election, you lose the leadership, but back then it was normal for the same person to remain leader even after a defeat. If nothing else, Symonds’ book proves that, with the current Labour Party now an inept shadow of the party Harold Wilson so successfully led, we will probably never see his like again.

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FURY OF PAST TIME | A LIFE OF GWYN THOMAS

TITLE - FURY OF PAST TIME | A LIFE OF GWYN THOMAS

WRITTEN BY - DARYL LEEWORTHY 

GENRE - WELSH WRITERS/ BIOGRAPHY 

PUBLISHED BY - PARTHIAN BOOKS 

PUBLICATION DATE - OCTOBER 2022 

Gwyn Thomas once admitted that whilst his novels were full of the love of people, they were not full of the love of life, an effect of the nihilistic worldview inherited from his mother. It was this cynicism, albeit with a strain of dark humour running through it, that coloured his life as a coruscating writer and celebrated raconteur. 

In the most in-depth biography of Gwyn Thomas yet published, Daryl Leeworthy makes use of letters and documents, many published for the first time, to deliver an unprecedented portrait of a complex and often contradictory man. Fiercely political (at least in his heart) with communist leanings, Gwyn Thomas was an angry young man who experienced the “split-personality” due to the dwindling use of the Welsh language in his hometown and own home, in a sense growing up as both Welsh and English.

Affected at a young age by the early death of his mother which gave Thomas a cynical, often bleak worldview which informed his written work. Ill-health, both physical and mental, and the widespread unemployment and decline of his native South Wales also marked his writing. But the humour that would see him become a popular mainstay of ‘70s television never wavered. He drifted through a multitude of jobs, most of which drove him to various kinds of utter despair, before settling into married life and teaching in Barry.

Thomas’ skilful and lyrical way with words bursts from the page thanks to the many, sometimes lengthy, quotes from Gwyn’s letters and books, and his voice is clear and resonant throughout. There is also a wealth of welcome information about the many foreign editions of Gwyn’s novels, and his vast influence in Europe and the USA in general, although he was banned in Ireland. The longest chapter in the book is devoted to Thomas’ famed television and radio appearances, the media in which he made his biggest and best remembered impact. There is also deep insight into his mostly successful yet chequered life as a playwright. 

Part biography and part savage, excoriating political and social history of South Wales and the wider world in the mid-20th century, Daryl Leeworthy makes a bold attempt at capturing Gwyn Thomas the man, but, through no fault of the author, he remains somewhat elusive. Nevertheless, this is an excellent and readable book, and as thorough a biography of the towering man of Welsh letters as we’re ever likely to get.

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BLOG TOUR - THE FALL OF ROMAN BRITAIN AND WHY WE SPEAK ENGLISH

 

TITLE - THE FALL OF ROMAN BRITAIN AND WHY WE SPEAK ENGLISH 

WRITTEN BY - JOHN LAMBSHEAD 

GENRE - ROMAN BRITAIN/EUROPE IN THE THIRD & FOURTH CENTURIES 

PUBLISHED BY - PEN & SWORD BOOKS 

PUBLICATION DATE - AVAILABLE NOW 

In “The Fall of Roman Britain and Why We Speak English”, prolific author, tabletop wargaming buff and designer of the “Fourth Protocol” computer game (I fondly remember playing it!), John Lambshead, explores the end of the Roman Empire in Britain and the circumstances that led to its inhabitants speaking what would become the language we know today as English. This is a thorough and enlightening history of the “bit in between” the end of the Romans and the beginning of Britain.

In many ways an historical detective story, John Lambshead undertakes a forensic study using geological, archaeological, climatological and biological evidence to uncover the causes of Roman collapse and the origins of the British people. At the end of each themed chapter, he draws convincing conclusions from the evidence. The chapter dedicated to “Londinium” supplies a wealth of knowledge about the Roman origins and purpose of the city that would become London. Also, Lambshead writes powerfully well about the domino effect of climate change and leadership battles leading to the devastating crisis of the third century.

The story is tied up in a convincing narrative at the end of the book, along with a bibliography and a timeline of events, using the dates generally accepted to be correct. John Lambshead, like all the best historians, has a command of his subject so, whilst complex in parts, his book is rigorously researched, always engrossing and easy to read.

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BLOG TOUR - ROMAN BRITAIN'S PIRATE KING

TITLE - ROMAN BRITAIN'S PIRATE KING | CARAUSIUS, CONSTANTIUS CHLORUS AND THE FOURTH ROMAN INVASION OF BRITAIN 

WRITTEN BY - SIMON ELLIOTT 

GENRE - ROMAN HISTORY IN BRITAIN 

PUBLISHED BY - PEN & SWORD BOOKS

PUBLICATION DATE - AVAILABLE NOW 

Very much a story of the Roman Empire in transition, and a complex one at that, Simon Elliott’s “Roman Britain’s Pirate King” tells a convoluted yet riveting story worthy of a film plot, which eventually culminates in the fourth Roman invasion and occupation of Britain.

Elliott begins by setting the scene with a timeline of the various Roman dynasties that led up to the “Crisis of the 3rd Century” and the shift from Principiate to Dominate and the appointment of Diocletian as Emperor. The author is an expert on the often complex structure of Roman rule, and this is a bonus as we are taken on a whistle-stop tour of the many Roman emperors throughout this volatile period. He then goes on to explore the transitional period of the Roman military and navy, with a wealth of detail about their command structure, equipment, weapons and daily life. In the third chapter, Elliott examines how these changes affected Roman Britain, exploring the lasting legacies of the key players, including the very first Mint in Britain.

The ‘’meat” of the book recounts the turbulent rise and dramatic fall of Carausius and his establishment of a separate empire in Gaul and Britain in the 3rd century AD. The story of his downfall at the hands of Constantius Chlorus, who would then meet his own fate courtesy of Allectus after many twists of fate, wouldn’t be out of place in an episode of “Game of Thrones”. There is a lot of interesting detail about Britain, and especially the early occupation and layout of London, in this era.

Numismatics, the study of coins, has played an important role in the accurate sourcing of data for this period of history, and Elliott has devoted a whole chapter to it. There are also several colour photographs of coins in the colour plates section. Coins were a simple yet effective way for Roman leaders to cement their claims to power: one such object, the Arras medallion minted by Chlorus features the first ever visual representation of London. Conversely, reliable original written material is scarce, however Elliott makes skilful use of modern research. The book includes a beautiful colour plate section displaying Pen & Sword’s usual quality photo reproduction, featuring coins, replicas of ships, model soldiers in accurate dress and ancient sites. There is also an index and bibliography.

As Simon Elliott states in his introduction, the subject of his latest book is admittedly complex, and so he has structured it in such a way as to provide the reader with all the necessary background information before he tells the story itself. As I’ve come to expect from Elliott’s work the story is absorbing and fascinating; he has such a masterly command of history that I never felt lost in this book; it is a mix of forensic detail, deep analysis and intelligent conclusions. Just like his previous, iconoclastic book “Alexander the Great versus Julius Caesar” (see my review of this book here), “Roman Britain’s Pirate King” is a concise, absorbing and thoroughly researched triumph that shines a light on a little-known period of history and the people who created it. 

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BLOG TOUR - EQUINOX

TITLE - EQUINOX

WRITTEN BY - DAVID TOWSEY 

GENRE - FANTASY/FICTION

PUBLISHED BY - HEAD OF ZEUS/AD ASTRA 

PUBLICATION DATE - AVAILABLE NOW 

A gorgeous monochrome cover with a touch of gold, vividly depicting the contrasting night/day theme of the story, holds a breathtakingly original story about witchcraft, war and magic. In the magical land of Reikova, two souls inhabit each body, each “person” existing only by day or night exclusively; a night-brother has a day-brother, each night-sister, a day-sister, and vice versa.

In the city of Esteberg in the 18th century, Christophor and his day-brother Alexsander are two people in the same body; the former lives at night, the latter by day. Christophor, a Special Inspector, is called to a grisly act of self-mutilation at the local prison in his city of Esteberg and forced to investigate against his wishes. This leads him to the mysterious neighbouring town of Drekenford where untold horrors await him.

In two parts, the first deals with events from Christophor’s point of view and the second from Alexsander’s. (Trigger warning - This latter section begins with a detailed description of the violent death of a horse, following on from the end of the previous part). Alexsander is a totally different person to his night-brother with whom we have spent the majority of the book so far; thanks to Towsey’s excellent characterisation, this shift in perspective adds a whole new dimension to the tale. The position of Special Inspector is very much like a witch-hunter or demonologist, and Christophor has a reputation of being cold and ruthless while Alexsander is a pleasure-loving musician.

The concept of two people sharing the same body is original and quite mind blowing. People chew a drug called “ettiene” to ease the transition between their night and day selves. A small degree of communication is possible between the two selves that doesn’t need to involve the more direct act of leaving notes. This is in fact a clever literary device enabling the narrative to continue outside of Christophor’s point of view when he is “asleep” and Alexsander is “awake”. Also, each separate section of the narrative is illustrated by a small sunrise or crescent moon.

When Christophor finds his investigation hampered by his day-brother, the story becomes as much about Christophor’s war with himself as it does the wider conflict. In fact my first reaction on learning that he would have to travel to another town was to wonder how that would work with Alexsander “in tow”. Proof that the concept is solid and that David Towsey an excellent writer to pull me in to the story like that.

“Equinox” (such a clever title-the time of year when the day and night are of equal length, and in this story of equal importance) can be read as a more magic-y “Name of the Rose”, with a pseudo-policeman on the trail of witchcraft and murder; there is also a library of restricted knowledge where dangerous books have to be kept in the dark. The world has the feel of a particularly dark fairytale; an Eastern European setting hinting at being part of our world but at the same time, subtly different.

The story is sexy, scary and deep with an apocalyptic ending, and the perfectly paced plot hooks you in without you even noticing. Towsey writes vividly and richly, creating a living, breathing world that drips with hidden menace. This is a magical world you will want to lose yourself in - I loved it!

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A KIND OF LOVING

TITLE - A KIND OF LOVING 

WRITTEN BY - STAN BARSTOW 

GENRE - CONTEMPORARY FICTION 

PUBLISHED BY - PARTHIAN BOOKS 

PUBLICATION DATE - 10TH JUNE 2022 

A Kind Of Loving” was a “kitchen-sink drama” classic in its day, its reputation bolstered by the celebrated film starring Alan Bates. The novel returns in a brand new edition from Parthian Books - which is fitting because author Stan Barstow lived in South Wales in later life until his death - but does this slice of Northern life have any relevance today? 

It is, without doubt, somewhat dated, with characters and attitudes very much of their time; the language, for example, will surprise a modern reader, and it is not a novel that is likely to be a feminist “Book of the Month Club” pick - this is very much a book for men, with much talk of “bints” and other even less savoury epithets. Although Vic Brown is not a hero, or even an anti-hero; he’s just as flawed and human as any young man. 

Barstow makes Vic a likeable narrator despite his faults, and gives him some breathtakingly beautiful turns of phrase in his inner monologues which counterpoint the “bloke-iness” of the character. Vic’s rather awkward and fumbling pursuit of Ingrid is endearing, and there is a very funny section where Vic reads Molly Bloom’s soliloquy from “Ulysses” and can’t believe such sexual frankness is allowed in print. He is also a bit of a snob in his occasional scorn of certain Northern working-class traits; always restless and wanting something better. His treatment of Ingrid, (a character who is, by accident or design, not as well drawn as Vic, but she engenders sympathy from the reader) seems callous, and when he admits to himself that he doesn’t truly love her, it comes as a quite a shock. 

The story is timeless, but, more than anything, the novel, originally published in 1960, is a vivid snapshot of early ‘60s Britain, the North of England in particular. The politics and class divides of the time are prominent, especially in the factory where Vic works. Bus fares cost threepence, there are jobs for life, men work in coal-mines and go to the football on Saturdays, while their wives run the house. There is much talk of a “boom” in industry and business during the novel’s time period, and whether it can last. 

Stan Barstow was a very skilled and naturalistic writer, with a gift for observing the realities of life. The characters’ journey is one that virtually anybody can relate to. Ultimately, “A Kind of Loving” is an immensely readable, honest and captivating story from an era when you could have a red-blooded male as a hero without incurring a jail sentence, and the story itself can be enjoyed, with an open mind, on its own terms.

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BROOD X

TITLE - BROOD X

WRITTEN BY - JOSHUA DYSART [ILLUSTRATED BY M. K. PERKER]

GENRE - CRIME FICTION

PUBLISHED BY - TKO ROGUE 

PUBLICATION DATE - AVAILABLE NOW 

 

In ‘50s America, seven desperate men are tasked to build a bomb shelter in a remote forest clearing amidst a vast swarming of cicadas. As accidents and deaths occur, they start to suspect each other whilst nature itself becomes an increasing threat to them…

Wow! What an original and visceral thrill this book is! Set in the McCarthy era so communism is a shadowy presence, and so is the racism and anti-semitism endemic of that age; an allegory for the suspicion that brews in the construction site. There is a vivid passage that describes the cicadas emerging from the earth in a seething mass, a metaphor for the American fear of “Reds under the beds”. Soon the bugs are flying everywhere and singing in a deafening cacophony, their mating ritual driving the men mad in different, destructive ways. 

Author Joshua Dysart doesn’t have many pages in which to flesh out the characters, and he doesn’t need them either. Each character, their background, appearance and temperament, is vividly drawn. The pacing is spot on as the men go from nervous mutual tolerance to full-blown suspicion of each other - this is a headlong ride to oblivion, as profound as it is horrific. 

In many ways, “Brood X” is a “locked room mystery”, albeit a rather twisted one that Poirot couldn’t imagine in his worst nightmares. This is a short book, more of a novella than a full novel, and is better for it. Told in the present tense, it has a concise, direct power and I was sucked into the story very quickly thanks to Joshua Dysart’s exceptional writing. Gory in parts, Dysart’s descriptive skills are often too much to handle. Atmospheric b&w line drawings by M. K. Perker pepper the text, adding a haunting visual dimension to the story. The ending, just like everything that has happened in the story up to that point, is a tragic gutter-punch. 

“Brood X” is an unforgettable masterpiece; read it in one sitting, then read it again. Just read it.

IF I DIDN'T LOVE THE RIVER

TITLE - IF I DIDN'T LOVE THE RIVER 

WRITTEN BY - ROBERT PRIEST 

GENRE - POETRY 

PUBLISHED BY - ECW PRESS 

PUBLICATION DATE - 20TH SEPTEMBER 2022 

One of the poems in Robert Priest’s superb poetry collection “If I Didn’t Love The River” is entitled “What Francesca Does To English”, and upon reading it, you will be marvelling at the things Robert Priest does to English. This poetry will awe you. 

This book has many poems about love, but maybe no actual love poems in the strictest sense of that term. But there is much about the unpredictability and violence of love, and many a broken heart. 

Stars also play a role in several of the poems, affecting our lives in ways both benign and malevolent; but always randomly. There is humour too, as in “Why I See A Therapist” where Priest bemoans that everything reminds him of the Third Reich, but even this poem turns dark. 

Lighter moments are to be found though, such as the melodic and bouncy “Device”, a twisted tribute to the all-consuming power of the smartphone and its ilk. This is followed by a similar poem, “The Like Process”, an ode to that often elusive and addictive social media conformation. 

Several of the poems are visceral rants about nature and the planet and what mankind can and does do to it. Obviously the pandemic is one of the themes covered, resulting in the hilarious “Infection Prevention for Murderers” which cautions killers to practice social distancing. Sick, funny and brilliant. 

There are many sublime moments in this collection and I am grateful to have discovered Robert Priest’s work. I loved the words and the rollercoaster rhythm Priest imposes on them. Once you “get” his poetry, it gets you too and won’t let go. Mostly dark, even the humour comes at a price; Robert Priest makes you regret laughing as he skilfully twists the tone of the poems. Priest utilises many styles and poetical forms with a cornucopia of themes and images; the results are sometimes delicate, often brutal, but always stunning.

THE DANCING MEN

TITLE - THE DANCING MEN [EBOOK]

WRITTEN BY - ALEX WOOLF & ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

PUBLISHED BY - ARCTURUS PUBISHING 

PUBLICATION DATE - 1ST JULY 2022 

This charming little book is such an obvious idea, it’s surprising that nobody has thought of it before. 

The Sherlock Holmes stories (16 in the series) have been adapted for children, complete with Eve O'Brien's delightful illustrations, by Alex Woolf. Here, the famous story “The Adventure of the Dancing Men” is retold in a much simplified version, but this doesn’t harm the tale: it still manages to be a complete story with a beginning, middle and end.  

Narrated, as usual, by Doctor Watson, the story is engaging and should keep the little ones guessing until the end. Holmes’ explanation of the true meaning of the dancing men is so clear that it puts Conan Doyle to shame! The chapters are short allowing the book to be read and enjoyed by parents and children in one go. It is slightly violent but not in a gratuitous way. Alex Woolf has a good command of the story and it doesn’t have any obvious triggers.  

Overall, “The Dancing Men” is a triumph and it is a book every child over seven will enjoy. I’m so interested to see how the other stories such as “The Hound of the Baskervilles” and “The Final Problem” are handled that I may end up reading them all myself!

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ELIOT AFTER THE WASTELAND

TITLE - ELIOT AFTER THE WASTELAND 

WRITTEN BY - ROBERT CRAWFORD

PUBLISHED BY - JONATHAN CAPE 

PUBLICATION DATE - 2ND JUNE 2022

“The Waste Land” by T. S. Eliot is one of my favourite poems, although anyone who has read it will know that the epithet “poem” barely does it justice. Eliot stands virtually alone in the pantheon of British poetry, creating verse that challenged the conformity and traditions of the time. 

I am a devotee of T. S. Eliot and I prepared for this book by reading Robert Crawford’s equally excellent first volume, 2015’s “Young Eliot: From St. Louis to The Waste Land”, in which he charted Eliot’s childhood and education, examining the eclectic (and often esoteric) influences on his burgeoning poetry that led to his epic poem. This second volume, entitled “Eliot After the Wasteland”, takes up Eliot’s life after the publication of that tumultuous, iconoclastic work; a period when he would write some of his most celebrated works, including “Four Quartets” and “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” and several successful plays. 

As author Robert Crawford states in the introduction to this second volume of his biography, he proffers a deep dive into the life of T. S. Eliot; not only of the celebrated poet but also to the secret life of “Tom” as his friends and family knew him. Throughout, Crawford refers to Eliot as Tom. With unprecedented access to surviving letters and interviews with people who knew Eliot at the time (indeed, Crawford is the last biographer to interview anyone who knew Eliot when “The Waste Land” was first published). This is very much a book about T. S. Eliot the man. Crawford paints an unvarnished portrait of Eliot, brilliant but human. He does not ignore Eliot’s failings in favour of a hagiography; Tom’s bawdy racist poetry and almost casual anti-Semitism will no doubt shock the modern reader. 

It is easy to dive back into Crawford’s work and continue Eliot’s life story, who now feels almost like an old friend thanks to the detail with which the first book brought him to life. The distinguished gentleman gracing the cover is T. S. Eliot as we know him; a world away from the nervous-looking youth from the first volume. 

This volume picks up the Eliot’s story from the end of the previous volume with little preamble, so while there is no absolutely pressing need to read that book first, some readers may feel like they should. This is merely an observation, not a criticism: having read the first volume, I can put myself in the shoes of someone picking up this book fresh. And as the second volume of this work, it is to be expected. Crawford offers intelligent analysis of Eliot’s poetry throughout but confesses that this isn’t the main thrust of his biography. 

There are many developments in Tom’s life in this book - his continued yet hidden feelings for another woman, Emily Hale; the protracted breakdown of his marriage;  the subsequent death of his wife, Vivien; his life-changing involvement with the fledgling publishing company Faber & Gwyer (soon to become Faber & Faber, which publishes his first book of poems), his conversion to Anglo-Catholicism and full British citizenship. Indeed, religion is one of the main driving forces of Eliot’s life; so too is his surprisingly complicated love-life. But above all, the main constant and unwelcome companion of Eliot’s life was Vivien’s and his own ill-health. Sadly, in the latter part of his life this would continue, especially for Vivien. There are unflinching passages about her suffering, and also of Tom’s - one doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry at how often Tom gets struck down by influenza or some such ailment. He agonises over guilt that he may have in some way caused Vivien’s illness, even metaphorically “killing” her. 

Obviously, the Second World War looms large in this period of Eliot’s life, and we feel the national tension grow as conflict and even invasion becomes ever more likely. There is a lot of interesting detail about Eliot’s experiences as an ARP warden and it is fascinating to read how the war developed on an almost weekly basis through the prism of his life. By the end of the book, Eliot has become a major celebrity, warranting front page splashes in the Daily Mail when he married his much younger secretary, Valerie Fletcher, and finally finding happiness (and not a little eroticism). 

“Eliot After the Wasteland” is a remarkable achievement and I enjoyed it immensely, and will return to both it and its predecessor. However, there are a couple of factors that make this book an often difficult read. Firstly, Crawford frequently mentions that various organisations, collections of writing, even the recipients of books from Tom, contained few or no women. This may warrant a single mention, but continually drawing attention to it as some kind of grievous sin almost a century later is egregious, and can only be due to the author wishing to score a few Brownie points with a progressive modern readership. 

Secondly, like its predecessor, this book is a weighty tome that includes a lot of painstaking detail on every aspect of Eliot’s life, both literary and personal, (in the case of Vivien’s illnesses, rather embarrassingly so) and as such the text can be a little longwinded at times: expect to read about every illness, night out and holiday the poet ever had. 

Criticisms aside, T. S. Eliot was a very intelligent and complex person, often self-absorbed, and his life-story requires a book of this calibre. Despite many highbrow passages, the book is very readable and there are moments of great poignancy - this is biography done right. “Eliot After the Wasteland” is a superb continuation of a groundbreaking biography of T. S. Eliot that is as close to definitive as we are ever likely to get.

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*'ZINEWATCH* - CLARET | AN UNOFFICIAL HAMMER MAGAZINE #1 & #2

TITLE - CLARET | AN UNOFFICAL HAMMER MAGAZINE 

ISSUE NUMBERS - #1 & #2

76 PAGES 

PRICE - £7.50 each 

BOTH ISSUES AVAILABLE NOW FROM - https://claretzine.com/

"Claret" is a relative newcomer to the 'zine scene, and a welcome one, taking as its subject everyone's favourite '60s and '70s British horror movie studio, Hammer Films.

Tapping a nostalgic vein (you're welcome), everyone of a certain age can remember their first time watching a Hammer film, and there is a very good chance that it was late on a Saturday night with a dodged bedtime a distant memory. It is also likely that the film in question was one of the nine movies examined in issue 1 of Claret, namely a Dracula tale starring that legend of the screen, Christopher Lee. The nine Dracula/vampire films made by Hammer between 1958 and 1974 are assessed by writers who are clearly fans, and there are also supporting articles about various vampire myths and tropes. All articles are written with a healthy dose of irreverence as well as intelligence, and the failures as well as the successes of these movies are looked at equally. 

Issue 2, entitled "Devil Women" and with Ingrid Pitt herself in full Vampire Lovers mode, takes a welcome serious look at the ladies of Hammer who were very often the selling points of the movies, fair of face and heaving of bosom. But they weren't always the landlord's (played by Michael Ripper, natch) nubile daughter; they were often much deadlier than the male in surprisingly progressive films such as Countess Dracula, The Vampire Lovers, She and Twins of Evil. This issue has pieces by both male and female writers. 

Articles are generally about 3-4 pages long. To avoid copyright infringement and no doubt to keep costs down, the zines contain no photographs, relying instead on excellent original drawings of actors and scenes from the films. The glorious covers are an indication of the quality to expect. This accentuates the DIY aspect of zines and the publication is all the better for it. Each issue comes with a postcard and bookmark with artwork matching the covers, and there are also very funny fake ads at the back of the magazine. An open invitation for submissions for issue 3 informs the reader that the subject next time will be Hammer's mad scientists, and their often unsuccessful experiments. The issues are perfect bound and display the same high production values of many zines that are currently available; if you read publications like "Black Dog" and "Hellborezine" you'll know what to expect from the size and quality of "Claret". 

This is a fanzine made with skill, by fans who know and love the subject. Meticulously researched, honest and unbiased, "Claret" is highly recommended for Hammer fans (that's basically everybody) and deserves support. 

*'ZINEWATCH* - BEDABBLED! #6

TITLE - BEDABBLED! #6

EDITED BY - MARTIN JONES 

57 PAGES

AVAILABLE NOW FROM AMAZON 

Bedabbled! is an independent movie ‘zine examining British horror and cult cinema; right up my alley. The magazine is slim, but never mind that, feel the quality.

Each issue has an overarching theme with issue #6, subtitled “The Room Inside Your Head”, being a study of “inner spaces”, both physical and mental. The first article is a deep-dive into the themes of decadence and duplicity in the films “Performance” and “The Servant” by Rik Rawling. The piece is thought-provoking and vivid, a dense and stimulating read in two parts that demands close attention.

Next up is a brief yet evocative piece on “The Innocents” by Martin Jones written in the style of the poetry of Emily Dickinson’s poetry - an analysis of the film through its images, as fragile and haunting as the movie itself. This article has made me look at one of my favourite films in a totally different way.

Sarah Morgan examines the 1967 curio “Our Mother’s House”, touching on general themes of children in films, usually either angels or little devils, and how the kids in this film are often both. Morgan provides a lot of interesting behind the scenes information and having seen the film a long time ago, this article has made me want to watch it again. Sarah Morgan also covers Hammer Films oddity “Demons of the Mind”. This is another excellent and well-researched article on a criminally underrated film.

“What Became of Jack and Jill?” is succinctly analysed by Adam Parker-Edmondston who makes a little-known movie sound like a must-watch; no mean feat. I’m back on familiar ground with Matthew Callingham’s fun piece on Amicus’ portmanteau classic “The House That Dripped Blood”. There are also a couple of supporting articles on “Twinky” and “Erotic Inferno”; not films I’m familiar with but it’s good that lesser-known films are being reappraised, and I am tempted to seek them out.

Overall, Bedabbled! is a very well-written and competently produced publication, with intelligent articles by writers who really know their subject. The issue’s evocative cover by Derek Gray sets the tone and features, I believe, a recreation of a scene from “The Innocents”, tying-in with the article, featuring a candle-bearing lady ascending a creepy staircase, who may even be Emily Dickinson herself. All the articles are thematically very closely linked which is a good thing, and the magazine is illustrated throughout with original stills, all monochrome, but of an acceptable quality and welcome in an unofficial publication. On the strength of this issue, I will keep buying Bedabbled! and I can happily recommend it to enthusiasts of British horror and cult films as one of the best ‘zines of its kind currently available.

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SUPPER'S READY | MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF GENESIS

TITLE - SUPPER'S READY | MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF GENESIS 

WRITTEN BY - PETE CHRISP 

PUBLISHED BY - SONA BOOKS 

PUBLICATION DATE - AVAILABLE NOW 

 

Pete Chrisp’s “Supper’s Ready - More Than 50 Years of Genesis” offers a fun and concise history of the “posh rock” band, from early years in search of a record deal to their stadium-filling heyday, through reunions and beyond to the present day with the “Last Domino” tour.

Chrisp admits in his introduction that it’s difficult to find a fan of all eras of Genesis - infamously, the post-Peter Gabriel years, when Phil Collins took over the microphone, tend to have a different kind of admirer than that of the early years. As a fan myself, I find much to like from all of their albums.

The book is unofficial yet it still has a wealth of archive photos and memorabilia such as concert tickets, gig posters, promo ads and tour programmes. The photos especially are excellent, though I don’t think there are any unseen shots. Chrisp charts the Genesis timeline concisely and clearly, admittedly without any shocking revelations, but it is well-researched, taking in the band members’ solo careers too. Chrisp expands on each studio album later in the book.

At the back of the book is a detailed discography of their studio, live and compilation albums, and an interesting list of Genesis’ albums from worst to best - sorry, “Calling All Stations” fans! (Their last studio album from 1997…hard to believe). There are also short biographies of everyone who’s ever been in Genesis; more than you’d think, culminating with Phil’s son, Nick, on drums.

A short but packed read, with a chapter or so devoted to each phase/album, it is large format and looks like an annual that is unusually good value for money - this book is much more than the sum of its parts. Sadly, a couple of mistakes have crept in, most likely printing errors, in the discography - the first track on the band’s first album “From Genesis To Revelation” is entitled “Where the Sour Turns to Sweet” not “Where the Sweet Turns to Sour” as stated in the book, and the tracklisting for “Wind & Wuthering”’s first side repeats the first side tracklisting of “A Trick of the Tail” from the previous page.

Pete Chrisp writes well and knowledgeably, with humour (there are several laugh-out-loud moments in his analysis of the studio albums) and welcome candour about the band’s less successful moments. Overall, “Supper’s Ready” is an enjoyable and accessible read that delivers a brisk overview of Genesis’ career, and is recommended. Long term Genesis-heads will know every fact and photo in these pages and probably deem it inessential; however, the book is colourful, attractive, and very well put together (errors aside) and should please a casual fan or someone just discovering the band.

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FORTRESS LONDON - WHY WE NEED TO SAVE THE COUNTRY FROM ITS CAPITAL

TITLE - FORTRESS LONDON | WHY WE NEED TO SAVE THE COUNTRY FROM ITS CAPITAL

WRITTEN BY - SAM BRIGHT

PUBLISHED BY - HARPER NORTH 

PUBLICATION DATE - 28TH APRIL 2022 

London is big, and getting bigger, and it’s influence on the rest of the U.K., Sam Bright argues, is detrimental, even malign. 

In the vivid preface to his excellent book, “Fortress London”, he describes England’s capitol city as a “towering, bulbous ant-hill”, home to virtually nine million people in the city itself and up to 14 million in the whole metropolitan area. London can be likened to a black hole that has sucked in politics, jobs, media attention, whose residents identify as Londoners before English or even British. To succeed in many modern careers, one is forced to go to London. 

He argues that London’s power needs to be curbed by encouraging Britain’s regions: the U.K. needs to be saved from its own capital. The focal point of a divided Britain, London is considered, mainly by those within it, to be a multicultural, progressive Mecca compared to the almost backward, xenophobic regions, made even worse by Brexit. Sam is fiercely proud of his Yorkshire roots and he admits this has coloured his writing and outlook, but that’s only to be expected. I know where he’s coming from, having had a similar background and upbringing: I like Sam as a narrator and guide. Bright examines his subject through the prism of the major talking points of our times - education, health, work, class divides etc to produce an accessible and powerful work for our times. 

Making use of statistics and interviews, there is much in the book that makes for sobering reading. I often found myself getting angry at the stark inequalities being laid bare, probably due to my background. In fact, how angry this book will make you will, I think, depend entirely on where and how you were born. 

Sam Bright writes with intelligence, erudition and occasional wit, producing the exact opposite of a dry, political diatribe. This is a very provocative book, very now: “Fortress London” is prescient, eye-opening (even eye-popping in parts) and vital, with a welcome strain of hopeful humour flowing through it.

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*'ZINEWATCH* - CINEMA OF THE '70s | ISSUE 5

TITLE - CINEMA OF THE '70s | ISSUE 5

EDITED BY - DAWN & JONATHON DABELL 

100 PAGES 

TWO VARIANT COVERS WITH IDENTICAL CONTENT, FEATURING OLIVER REED AND VANESSA REDGRAVE IN "THE DEVILS", ARE AVAILABLE NOW FROM AMAZON, ALONG WITH THE PREVIOUS FOUR ISSUES. 

Issue 5 of “Cinema of the “70s” is the first I’ve picked up and I’m very glad I took a punt. The magazine has a pleasing, DIY “zine” feel and is full of very intelligent and interesting articles, with highlights including an excellent piece on one of my favourite ‘70s films, the somewhat forgotten medical thriller “Coma” (in fact it was this article that prompted me to buy the mag), Ken Russell’s groundbreaking ‘70s output (including the brutal classic “The Devils”, the stars of which, Oliver Reed & Vanessa Redgrave, adorn this issue’s two full colour variant covers) and on the gritty and violent (even more so than the TV series) big-screen Sweeney films.

There are also several equally good articles on lesser-known ‘70s movies like “The Late Show”, “Punishment Park” and “Red Sun”. There is plenty of screenshots, publicity and original lobby cards even though it’s a small-scale publication. There is also some stunning original artwork depicting “The Devils”, caricatures and obituaries.

Definitely a labour of love, the magazine is perfect for film aficionados and fans of 1970s cinema. It’s not as glossy as a mainstream movie magazine, but it is honest, packed with content and very well put together; the writing team’s love of movies shines through to produce a varied, multi-genre celebration of a glorious and important decade in film. The quality of the writing means the magazine is more than the sum of its parts. Now I’m going to buy the rest of the issues!

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CARRY ON REGARDLESS

TITLE - CARRY ON REGARDLESS

WRITTEN BY - CAROLINE FROST 

PUBLISHED BY - WHITE OWL/PEN & SWORD BOOKS 

PUBLICATION DATE - 30TH APRIL 2022 
 

“I was once a weak man”. 

“Well, once a week’s enough for any man”. 

This and many other pearls of wisdom are to be found in the evergreen National Treasure that is the Carry On films. A phenomenally successful legend of British cinema, now a mainstay of Bank Holiday telly, no entendre was ever knowingly left undoubled by the likes of Sid James, Barbara Windsor and Kenneth Williams. Many books have been written on them, but there’s always room for one more especially when they’re as good as Caroline Frost’s “Carry On Regardless”. (It takes its title from the fifth Carry On, which features Kenneth Williams taking a chimpanzee for a walk and attempting to hail a taxi only to be told by the driver -“I'll take you, but not your brother!”)

Frost takes a deep dive into the history of the Carry Ons from their genesis and early days in the late ‘50s, through its heyday in the ‘60s and it’s slow demise in the ‘70s, a decade which was certainly not the franchise’s golden age. She also examines the not-so-successful relaunch film “Carry On Columbus” and the many recent attempts to revive the series. Personally, I don’t think this should happen as a modern version could never match the sheer innocent fun of the originals. 

The Carry Ons rarely get any kind of serious appraisal as the general consensus has always been that they were and are very lightweight, offensive rubbish, guilty of every “ism” under the sun, that belongs in the unenlightened past and which have no place in the “woke” future. However, Caroline Frost discovers that the films were far more progressive than they are given credit for. 

There are many contemporary photographs and interviews with surviving cast members who offer a firsthand insight into what it was really like on the set of a Carry On. Part academic critique, part nostalgia-trip, this is a scholarly yet fun book, highly recommended.

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THE SAVOY AND OTHER STORIES

TITLE - THE SAVOY AND OTHER STORIES 

WRITTEN BY - STEPHEN MURPHY 

PUBLISHED BY - BLACKGATE MEDIA 

PUBLICATION DATE - AVAILABLE NOW 

Stephen Murphy’s “The Savoy and Other Stories” contains seventeen short adults-only stories, some only a little over a couple of pages in length, others longer. They are intriguing snapshots of the lives of people who go through profound changes, both good and bad.

None of the stories outstay their welcome and are just the right length to avoid becoming boring - Murphy has a good handle on how to construct a short, sharp (sort-of) shock. The tales are not really of any particular genre; there are various styles but some of the stories have a twist in the tale.

Characters in the stories often have dark thoughts, variously planning revenge or even murder, and there is a large amount of death and loss here, but usually the stories end on a hopeful, transformative, note. A second or third reread is recommended to wring every nuance of meaning out of these tales. There are funny stories too, including title story “The Savoy” about a quirky old cinema of the kind we all wish we could find.

Overall, “The Savoy and Other Stories” is a competent collection of character-driven stories that will take you through the gamut of emotions, and is highly recommended.

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BLOG TOUR - STRINGERS

TITLE - STRINGERS 

WRITTEN BY - CHRIS PANATIER 

PUBLISHED BY - ANGRY ROBOT BOOKS 

PUBLICATION DATE - 12TH APRIL 2022 

Page 20 of Chris Panatier’s “Stringers” contains this sentence - “She’d added muscle like a rutting brymlack on a torpgrub diet”. If that sentence appears perfectly normal to you, then you need to read this book.

I fear I may run out of adjectives to describe this extravagantly bonkers yet deeply profound book by the end of this review. The crazy plot involves Ben, an unwilling fount of amazing/pointless facts about natural science (and watches) which have appeared unbidden in his brain from an early age. Seeking out other sufferers on the Dark Web, he agrees to meet one of them who turns out to be an alien bounty hunter tasked with capturing Ben and others with the same gift, known as “stringers”. A galactic search for a devastating concept known only as The Chime ensues. Also, a stubborn jar of pickles plays a large part…

The supporting characters, especially the alien Naecia who has her own, more traditionally sci-fi narrative thread, are fully fleshed-out and individually interesting. Panatier juggles varied, exciting story strands which cleverly intersect whilst never dropping any of the narrative balls in what is quite an intricate and serious story, despite its humorous overtones. He takes a complex idea (people who can access the minds of dead people on the same “string” and their obscure and sometimes valuable knowledge) and creates a fun and accessible novel. “Stringers” is written very much in the same vein as Douglas Adams (there’s even a Babel Fish reference) or Jasper Fforde, the latter especially present in Panatier’s use of footnotes, which offer fascinating tidbits of Ben’s labyrinthine knowledge of the sex lives of bugs. The footnotes are actually highly relevant to the plot and shouldn’t be ignored.

This is not hard sci-fi, just a ridiculously fun romp with believable characters and a surprising amount of depth amidst the jokes. “Stringers” is incredibly easy to read and the plot moves at a satisfying pace that never becomes boring, with moments of great poignancy on the theme of friendship. Fresh and inventive, “Stringers” is naughty, sweary, heartbreaking and brilliant - with great big dollops of nerdiness, pop culture references and sexy alien tech. If you’ve ever argued about an episode of Blake’s 7 in a comic shop, “Stringers” is the book you need right now.

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LIFE & DEATH ON THE EASTERN FRONT | THE RARE COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE SECOND WORLD WAR

TITLE - LIFE & DEATH ON THE EASTERN FRONT | THE RARE COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE SECOND WORLD WAR 

WRITTEN BY - ANTHONY TUCKER-JONES & IAN STEWART SPRING 

PUBLISHED BY - PEN & SWORD BOOKS 

PUBLICATION DATE - AVAILABLE NOW 

Anthony Tucker-Jones and Ian Spring’s gorgeous book is a meticulously researched and arresting visual history of life on the Eastern Front of World War II, featuring an archive of colour photographs which provide an unprecedented insight into everyday wartime life.

The book begins with biographical detail of the various official (and unofficial) German and Russian photographers who took the photos at the time. Most of the photographs were taken using film made by the then up and coming manufacturer Agfa, which became widely popular both during and after the war. The shots have an honest, imperfect charm due to the limitations of the film.

Ian Spring’s stunning collection of over 30,000 colour photographs taken by Germans on the Eastern Front forms the backbone of this excellent book. The photos have a moving realism to them as they are naturally-posed records of the soldiers’ war experiences. Many of them are lighthearted with German soldiers posing and smiling for the camera, while others are incredibly poignant. There are even some shots of Hitler himself visiting the battlefield to the delight of the troops. Be warned that, as the book’s title suggests, there are scenes of death, both human and animal. 

The book is split into three parts, exploring the conflict on the ground, in the air and behind the lines. Anthony Tucker-Jones’ captions are full and detailed with a huge amount of technical information about armoured vehicles, fighter planes and weapons to satisfy the enthusiast. 

This is a beautifully produced book which is highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of WWII at a human level.

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YOUNG ELIOT - FROM ST. LOUIS TO "THE WASTE LAND"

TITLE - YOUNG ELIOT - FROM ST. LOUIS TO "THE WASTE LAND"

WRITTEN BY - ROBERT CRAWFORD 

PUBLISHED BY - JONATHAN CAPE 

PUBLICATION DATE - AVAILABLE NOW

A reluctant biographee, many of his personal papers and letters were destroyed at his own request, however “Young Eliot” examines the poet’s formative years in much more detail than previous biographers have devoted to them. Drawing on hitherto untapped sources and documents, Robert Crawford has written a definitive and personal, though unofficial, biography which reveals the human being behind the legend.

A seemingly ordinary, slightly timid young man stares out from the dust-jacket. Referred to as “Tom” throughout the book,  Crawford paints an unvarnished portrait of a young man, brilliant but human. Young Tom would’ve often displayed the casual racism and sexism of the time, but Crawford doesn’t ignore Eliot’s failings in favour of a hagiography. Nor does he gloss over the bawdy poetry Eliot wrote at Harvard, an university he was nearly thrown out of for “loafing”, achieving lacklustre grades in the process.

As expected in a two-volume work, the biographical detail is intensive. Crawford begins right at the beginning, examining Eliot’s birth into quite a large family with several much older siblings, his school life and early forays into poetry. Each chapter of Eliot’s life is vividly detailed as Crawford skilfully charts his development as a poet up to and including the publication of “The Waste Land”. There is much in this work that even the most dedicated Eliot scholar will find surprising and new.

Two sections of revealing photographs are included, each snapshot loaded with meaning and poignancy, along with notes and an index. Scholarly, intelligent and accessible, “Young Eliot” is a joy to read and must surely be hailed as the beginning of a definitive biography of T. S. Eliot.