Absolute Beginners

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Absolute Beginners~
Author Colin MacInnes
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Genre(s) Novel
Publisher MacGibbon & Kee
Released 1959
Media Type Print (Unknown binding & Paperback)
Pages ? (1st edition), & 208 pages (paperback)
ISBN ISBN 0-7490-0540-8 (paperback)
Preceded by City of Spades
Followed by Mr. Love and Justice
This article is about the book Absolute Beginners. For the film, see Absolute Beginners (film). For the David Bowie song, see Absolute Beginners (song).

Absolute Beginners is a bestselling novel by Colin MacInnes, written and set in 1958 London, England. It was published in 1959.

Contents

[edit] Plot introduction

The novel describes the rise of a bohemian, style-conscious youth culture, a culture that would become the Mod movement, as seen through the eyes of a nineteen year-old Vespa-riding teenager who freelances as a photographer. It also describes the fomenting racial tensions of the time in Notting Hill and the methods of commercial developers in the gentrification process that later swept large areas of London.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The novel focuses on a young photographer who photographs the seedy bohemian night-life in 1958 London, and his corruption by an advertising man. The narrator hangs out in jazz bars and fancies a young woman named Suze, who appears to enjoy sleeping with every black man that crosses her path, while also planning on marrying her mid-40s boss, Henley, who works as a high-class fashion designer. The book also contains an exotic range of minor characters, such as a butch lesbian, a party-hopping artist, a junior pornographer, and a pederastic pop-music promoter. The book builds the personal plot against the background of the rise of a developer-sponsored youth gangs of teddy boys who are terrifying people out of their homes so the rundown neighbourhood can be gentrified. The ending echoes the real life Notting Hill riots of the time.

[edit] Characters in "Absolute Beginners"

  • The narrator - 19 year-old photographer
  • Suze - secretary to Henley, and the girl the narrator fancies.
  • Henley - 40 year-old fashion designer
  • Verne - 20-year-old stepbrother of the narrator

[edit] Major themes

  • Race tension, post war atmosphere, generation gap, bohemianism
Spoilers end here.

[edit] 1980s revival and film adaptation

The novel enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the early 1980s, mostly due to Paul Weller - then at the height of his success with The Jam - repeatedly citing it as his favourite book in interviews, and even recording a song with The Jam (albeit not one of their most highly regarded) entitled "Absolute Beginners".

Subsequently the novel was made into the 1986 UK musical film Absolute Beginners, directed by Julien Temple and featuring Patsy Kensit and a performance by David Bowie.1 The song "Absolute Beginners" was composed by David Bowie for this film and appears on the movie soundtrack and on versions of Best of Bowie albums.2 Unsurprisingly there was also a Paul Weller contribution, with The Style Council's "Have You Ever Had It Blue" appearing on the soundtrack.

The film is a stylized allegory of youth vs. the establishment and includes some pointed commentary on race relations in the 50s, English fascists and advertising manipulation. Bowie plays the advertising manipulator. A young Bruce Payne plays the part of Flikker, a neo-fascist thug who leads a gang of teddy boys.

[edit] Release details

[edit] References

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