
Absolute Beginners
The twentieth-century cult classic
Colin MacInnes(Author)
Allison & Busby (Publisher)
Published on 13. June 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-7490-0998-4 (ISBN)
Description
London, 1958. In the smoky jazz clubs of Soho and the coffee bars of Notting Hill the young and the restless - the absolute beginners - are forging a new carefree lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. Moving in the midst of this world of mods and rockers, Teddy gangs and trads., and snapping every scene with his trusty Rolleiflex, is MacInnes' young photographer, whose unique wit and honest views remain the definitive account of London life in the 1950s and what it means to be a teenager. In this twentieth century cult classic, MacInnes captures the spirit of a generation and creates the style bible for anyone interested in Mod culture, and the changing face of London in the era of the first race riots and the lead up to the swinging Sixties...
Reviews / Votes
'The 1959 novel by Colin MacInnes was once described by Paul Weller as "the ultimate mod book". Written in the 'Beat' style of Kack Kerouac...describing their love of Italian style, from suits to cappuccinos, the novel captured the fat-moving, cosmopolitan style craved by the mods.' ShortlistMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
203 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7490-0998-4 (9780749009984)
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
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
10/2011
Allison & Busby
€11.99
Available for download
Person
A talented off-beat journalist and social observer, Colin MacInnes is best known for his trilogy of London novels which includes Absolute Beginners as well as City of Spades and Mr Love and Justice. He also wrote about the allied occupation of Germany in the aftermath of the Second World War, in June in Her Spring and England, Half English. He died of cancer in 1976. Since his death his best essays, fiction and journalism have been published in various collections.