Poor Cow

Although superbly written, this story is not dressed up, it's a stark look at life for a young woman of the 1960s in the East End of London. Under-educated, no prospects, a new-born baby, and a serious shortage of money, Joy maintains a positive, bright outlook. In spite of the heartbreaking deal life has given her, Joy is a delight. Many of the moments she shares with her little son, Jonny, are so soft and loving compared with the harsh realities of her life.

Dunn's exceptional writing goes from first person to third person, often using phrases of local dialect, with some letters in the vernacular from Joy to her boyfriend in prison. Put together, they create the picture that is essentially Joy: frivolous, loving, childlike, unwittingly show more vulgar, unfailingly cheerful. It's not everyone's taste, but I loved this book, loved Joy.

"To think when I was a kid I planned to conquer the world and if anyone saw me now they'd say, 'She's had a rough night, poor cow.'"

This Virago Modern Classics edition includes "Preface by the author: Memories of Battersea" in which she describes her own experience of the 1960s, which was lived in a poor neighbourhood similar to Joy's. It also has an excellent introduction by friend of the author, Margaret Drabble. show less

Joy is a young mum, getting by in 1960s London and Poor Cow is a slice of her life told in 134 pages. Her husband gets himself sent to prison, and Joy falls in love with Dave, one of his crime friends. He eventually gets sent to prison too, and Joy works as a barmaid, does some modelling, loves her son, and has lots of sex, sometimes for money. Although her life is at times pretty rough, Joy is endlessly optimistic. As she says, all she really wants is to be happy and contented. She is a complex character that doesn't fit into any stereotype slots.

The narration of this short novel is unusual. It slips between third and first person, and sometimes semi-literate letters written to Dave. Dunn uses a lot of 1960s British slang, and show more sometimes writes in sentence fragments. Because of this, and also because some readers will find Joy too unsavory, Poor Cow isn't for everyone.

Margaret Drabble wrote the introduction to this Virago Modern Classics edition.

Recommended for: readers who like unique characters and are interested in the 1960s London setting. show less

a pink-lipsticked, mini-skirted tale of life, love and young motherhood in the 60s'
By sally tarbox on 2 Jun. 2013
Format: Paperback
Wonderfully evocative short novel set in 60s London, and telling the story of 22 year old Joy. With her husband imprisoned shortly after her baby's birth, Joy must cope as best she can. Living with her aunt, an intense affair with another man - and assignations with many more- work in bars and modelling...the one constant in Joy's life is her adored son, the descriptions of whom are perhaps the most vivid part of Dunn's writing. Very enjoyable read.

Not quite as effective as 'Up the Junction' though certainly more ambitious. The combination of third person, first person, and Joy's letters to Dave, means that the narrative doesn't hold quite so well together, especially since the letters to Dave tend not to reveal much that we don't already know. But overall, still a good read.

This book is incredibly good. The back cover, on the version I have, begins its synopsis of the story with "Meet Joy" and that is exactly what happens -- you meet Joy, a single Mom in 1960s England. She is an incredibly real person. She is basically happy and good, but at the same time, living in near squalour and carrying on in an inappropriate manner with several low-class men. The range of emotions Joy and I experienced throughout this short novel was almost boundless. This is excellent writing.

A classic of 1960s life, this novella shocked when published in 1967 due to the earthy frankness of Dunn's protagonist - Joy, a young mother, who married a wrong 'un. Read my review here: http://annabookbel.net/pfd-sunday-times-young-writer-award-freeman-mozley