Tangier
City of the Dream
Published on 3. November 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-1-78076-926-4 (ISBN)
Description
'A dream concealed in stone...sky supersonic, orgone blue, warm wind...Such beauty, but more than that, it's like the dream is breaking through.' William Burroughs
No city in the world has quite the exotic allure of Tangier. From the 17th century, it has been a place on the edge, beyond the normal disciplines of government, a city of refuge and excitements where sex is cheap, drugs are plentiful and where the outcasts of the world can breathe easily. The golden years of Tangier began after World War I and barely survived World War II.
Among those who sought sanctuary in or inspiration from this legendary city were Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Paul and Jane Bowles, Ronnie Kray, the unhappy Woolworth heiress, Barbara Hutton, Tennessee Williams, Joe Orton, Cecil Beaton and Truman Capote. It is this 'last resort of the living dead, alive but not madly kicking' which Iain Finlayson explores in his witty, enthralling book.
No city in the world has quite the exotic allure of Tangier. From the 17th century, it has been a place on the edge, beyond the normal disciplines of government, a city of refuge and excitements where sex is cheap, drugs are plentiful and where the outcasts of the world can breathe easily. The golden years of Tangier began after World War I and barely survived World War II.
Among those who sought sanctuary in or inspiration from this legendary city were Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Paul and Jane Bowles, Ronnie Kray, the unhappy Woolworth heiress, Barbara Hutton, Tennessee Williams, Joe Orton, Cecil Beaton and Truman Capote. It is this 'last resort of the living dead, alive but not madly kicking' which Iain Finlayson explores in his witty, enthralling book.
Reviews / Votes
'Finlayson's crisp narrative which bubbles into metaphorical rhapsody. Charming - and as elegant a history of the city as you could find anywhere.' -MAREK KOHN, 'Independent' 'Not a suitable gift for that apocryphal maiden aunt - Finlayson writes so elegantly and scathingly about Tangier and its infidel Nazarenes - one suspects his name has already been struck off a good few Tangier guest-lists' -PHILIP HOARE, 'Sunday Times' 'Finlayson is a brilliant juggler of moods and vignettes' -JONATHAN KEATES, 'Observer' 'A masterpiece of literary gossip.'- Mark Archer, 'Sunday Telegraph'More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Illustrations
8pp bw plates
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Weight
380 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78076-926-4 (9781780769264)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Iain Finlayson is the author of acclaimed biographies of James Boswell and Robert Browning, as well as books on such varied themes as the Scots, the writers of Romney Marsh and denim. He is Books Editor of Saga Magazine and reviews books for The Times as well as writing for Harpers Bazaar and the Scotsman, among others.