1914: Colin MacInnes - Resources and General Discussion
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1edwinbcn
(1914 – 1976)Colin MacInnes was a British novelist, most well-known for his novels City of Spades (1957) and Absolute Beginners (1959).
Most of his novels are situated in London's Notting Hill area. Poverty and racial issues belong to his major themes, besides subjects such as urban squalor, bisexuality, drugs, anarchy, and "decadence."
2elenchus
I've had Absolute Beginners on my shelves for a good year now, could be a good time to dive in.
Can it possibly live up to my expectations after repeated listens to the Paul Weller lyric all these years?
Can it possibly live up to my expectations after repeated listens to the Paul Weller lyric all these years?
3edwinbcn
Later on, I will read City of Spades. I have often heard of this author, but never read anything.
Who has not heard of Absolute Beginners?
Who has not heard of Absolute Beginners?
4elenchus
I've not read any Irwin Welsh, either (and who has not heard of Trainspotting?), I've vaguely thought I should pair these two titles and see if there are any interesting resonances. Both are almost iconic in their way, but I have the benefit of distance from each at this point, to avoid too much distortion from their respective places in the literary firmament.
5edwinbcn
City of Spades
Finished reading: 10 December 2014
Colin MacInnes was a successful British author from a literary family, who published several well-known novels such as To the Victors the Spoils and Absolute Beginners.
During the 1950s, MacInnes wrote a number of novels situated in the milieu of black immigrants. These novels bear relations with the novels of Sam Selvon, for instance The Lonely Londoners (1956), and the early work of V.S. Naipaul, with whom MacInnes was acquainted. MacInnes "London trilogy, comprising of the three novels City of Spades (1957), Absolute Beginners (1959) and Mr Love & Justice (1960) was published during this period, at a time when racial discrimination and bisexuality were still largely tabu. MacInnes attraction to writing about these groups stemmed from his homosexual or bisexual orientation. As he was attracted to black men en women, he came into contact with their issues, including subjects such as urban poverty, matters of race, drugs, anarchy, and "decadence".
In City of Spades, Nigerian immigrant Johnny finds himself caught up in the new ethnic subculture in 50s London. The novel is very well written, and introduces many topics and issues now commonly associated with poor, immigrant populations. There is a brooding sense of homosexuality, as the white employee of the government office cannot really explain his interest in these black men he seeks friendship with, but the matter is settled as he enters into a sexual relationship with some of the black girls.
Current literary scholarship favours the prose of ethnic minority writers over the work of Britsih authors, regarding ethnic issues as more authentic. However, it seems Colin MacInnes' work should not be overlooked.
Finished reading: 10 December 2014
Colin MacInnes was a successful British author from a literary family, who published several well-known novels such as To the Victors the Spoils and Absolute Beginners.
During the 1950s, MacInnes wrote a number of novels situated in the milieu of black immigrants. These novels bear relations with the novels of Sam Selvon, for instance The Lonely Londoners (1956), and the early work of V.S. Naipaul, with whom MacInnes was acquainted. MacInnes "London trilogy, comprising of the three novels City of Spades (1957), Absolute Beginners (1959) and Mr Love & Justice (1960) was published during this period, at a time when racial discrimination and bisexuality were still largely tabu. MacInnes attraction to writing about these groups stemmed from his homosexual or bisexual orientation. As he was attracted to black men en women, he came into contact with their issues, including subjects such as urban poverty, matters of race, drugs, anarchy, and "decadence".
In City of Spades, Nigerian immigrant Johnny finds himself caught up in the new ethnic subculture in 50s London. The novel is very well written, and introduces many topics and issues now commonly associated with poor, immigrant populations. There is a brooding sense of homosexuality, as the white employee of the government office cannot really explain his interest in these black men he seeks friendship with, but the matter is settled as he enters into a sexual relationship with some of the black girls.
Current literary scholarship favours the prose of ethnic minority writers over the work of Britsih authors, regarding ethnic issues as more authentic. However, it seems Colin MacInnes' work should not be overlooked.
6baswood
Thats very interesting Edwin. I have seen the film version of Absolute Beginners, but never connected it to the writing of Colin MacInnes and I didn't realise some of his subject matter was racial discrimination and sexual preferences. I will keep a look out for his London Trilogy.
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