City of Spades

London Trilogy #1

by Colin MacInnes

London, 1957. Victoria Station is awash with boat trains discharging hopeful black immigrants into a cold and alien motherland. Liberal England is about to discover the legacy of Empire. And when Montgomery Pew, assistant welfare officer in the Colonial Department, meets Johnny Fortune, recently arrived from Lagos, the meeting of minds and races takes a surprising turn.


Colin MacInnes gives London back to the people who create its exciting sub-culture. Hilarious, anti-conventional, blisteringly honest and fully committed to younth and vitality, City of Spades is a unique and inspiring tribute to a country on the brink of change.

Genres: Fiction, 20th Century, London, British Literature, Novels, Modern Classics, Race

356 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

MacInnes was born in London, the son of singer James Campbell MacInnes and novelist Angela Thirkell, and was educated in Australia. He served in the British intelligence corps during World War II.

He was the author of a number of books depicting London youth and black immigrant culture during the 1950s, in particular City of Spades (1957), Absolute Beginners (1959) and Mr. Love and Justice (1960).

Reviews

[mark monday · Rating 2 out of 5]

City of Spades is the first novel in colin macinnes' once-celebrated "London Trilogy", a trio that has at its center Absolute Beginners, which is one of my favorite novels. City is a junior member of the series; perhaps because its portraits of white middle class folks' engagement with african culture is a simplistic one of easy parody of easy targets, or perhaps because its candide-like central character johnny fortune's wholehearted embracing of cultural stereotypes is by its very nature a discomfiting experience...or maybe because the urban patois that is rife throughout the novel comes across as dated or even reprehensible. there is always a certain discomfort when reading a white author's depiction of non-white culture; the reader almost holds their breath in anticipation of any noticeable condescension, lack of realism, or use of stereotype. for me, those were not problems with City; the problem was solely in the jokey characterization of the white characters. perhaps not the worst fault in the world, but i'm not a fan of easy targets in general.

writing this review reminds me of an aggravating GR review of The Giving Tree, in which the reviewer takes it upon himself to write the first third of the review in his own version of urban patois. there is so much wrong with a clearly intellectual white guy deciding to use slang in which he is not a fellow traveler and in which he is clearly not familiar, as a joke, to mock something or some people in a way that is neither credible nor speaks of any empathy towards folks who aren't himself - in a way that actually doesn't make a whole lot of sense. the joke becomes pointless, meaningless. while it is irritating to hear various middle class white or asian kids' ease with Nigga this, Nigga that, it is even more aggravating to read easy condescension from an adult who is widely read and who surely must be armed with all the lessons learned from living (and reading) in the adult world.

this is, in a way, an opposite of the problem i have with City, but the problems are linked by race and condescension. the white characters in City are jokes and so they speak and think like jokes....but to what end? to make a point that whites are not hep and blacks are the cool cats? the novel overall is a worthy one, funny and poignant and rough around the edges, an entertaining portrait of a certain place and time in swingin' london. but overall i couldn't escape the sense of Methinks the Author Doth Protest Too Much. fortunately, whitey stopped hating himself so much and went on to produce the absolute classic Absolute Beginners.

[Wreade1872 · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was fairly good. It starts off well, told from the point of view of two main characters, a nigerian student in london for a year of study and a newly appointed colonial welfare officer.
The coloured community of 1950s london is a pretty unique setting. As well as nigerians you have gambians, people from trinidad and other caribbean islands, and a number of americans usually visitors, GIs or showbiz types.

However after the initial setup things become a bit episodic or sporadic might be a better descriptor. With its variety of characters it reminds me a lot of Evelyn Waugh, except not funny, then again i don't usually find his stuff all that funny either :P .
Like Waughs novels, by the end there arn't really any likable characters or over-arcing plot, its more just a series of incidents.
The main nigerian character probably comes off the worst until you remember he's 18, which pretty conclusively explains if not entirely excuses his actions ;) .
The book is about race but not really racism. Its surprisingly light on the racism for 1950s but mostly because there are only a few white characters and they're mostly of the very liberal type.

By the end the whole thing just feels a bit slight. Fun and interesting enough but a bit thin.

[Sophie Cayeux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mesmerising. I couldn’t put it down. Review on http://www.snowbeachpublications.com
London in the Fifties (before Nigeria gained Independence from Britain). The author brilliantly gets into the heads of African students /emigrants (called Spades) and equally well into the heads of White characters (the Jumbles). McInnes shifts impressively from the voice of 18-years-old black Nigerian Johnny Fortune to the voice of Montgomery or Miss Theodora Pace, two white locals who are fascinated by the Spades (and display great kindness and friendship to Johnny Fortune).
The author describes the swelling population of Africans (from British colonies and the Commonwealth) in London at that time, their hopes and expectations (that are never realised), the clash in culture, the recurring misunderstandings in inter-racial social interactions, the Spades’ difficulty to adapt to the prevailing rules of civil behaviour.
We witness how Spades are sucked - and spiral downwards - into the underworld of gambling, prostitution, drugs and crime. The locations - pubs, dance halls, nightclubs - that Africans from various countries haunt (although Africans from different countries are rivals and not friends, they are bundled as Spades by the Jumbles). There are endless clashes with the Law, resentment by the police force and rampant corruption.
Despite it all, the Spades possess an exotic charm and Jumbles are irresistibly attracted to them. Women harass Johnny Fortune. He cannot resist their passion for him/his body, pregnancies follow, a mixed race baby boy is born. Yet Johnny’s values remain unchanged. They have nothing in common with those of the benevolent Jumbles who care for him and continuously finance him after he loses his money gambling - even paying for the cost of his lawsuit. Johnny Fortune is self-centred and self-absorbed. He doesn’t care much for all his female admirers or the mother of his child. He intends to stay a free spirit.
Colin McInnes narrates both the White and Black version of the same story thus displaying his intimate knowledge of both sides. It is a deep analysis of London society at the time. Once I started the book, I couldn’t put it down. SWEET SUGAR

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting novel for a glimpse into the culture of the period in "underground" London

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but dated account of relations between black and white in a London still scarred by the recently ended Hitler war. The central white characters, Montgomery and Theodora never rise above upper middle class stereo-types who find blacks vital and exotic. The former's naive willingness to descend at a moment's notice into situations of obvious danger make the novel parodic, a sort of Dantean descent into an addictive hell, The few white working class characters (with the exception of the old white man disgusted with the take-over of his pub) are women horribly damaged by their relations with blacks, as is the fate of the middle class Theodora.

But then there is the strange character of Alfie Bongo, the queer boy who wants to be black, and who appears to be dispised by all. Yet he is the one person able to imagine a future, not so distant, when all the stuff about racism has been ditched.

So, I've not said much here about Johnny Fortune, the central black character, or any of the other Africans, and the few West Indians. There upsets and dismay hardly seem to merit anythhing as grossd as tragedy, even Johnny's best friend who succombs, rather cheerfully, t the death of a habitual heroin user.

But then again there are two black women and the mixed race misfit who is Johnny's half brother. The teenage Cardiff born prostitute (mixed race) and the half brother are pessimistic symbols of what happens when the races mix. Only Peach, Johnny's beautiful, puritanical sister shows fortitude, by rejecting a life where black and white mix and insisting on an African future for her brother's mixed race son.

Despite its flippant, hip tone, this is a bleak view of a London where white and black come into contact with one another. Whilst anti-racism may be part of the intent of the story it seems to suggest that equality is only possible at a very remote distance.

[Sarah Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"City of Spades" follows the lives and struggles of Montgomery Pew, a civil servant with the Immigration department and Johnny Fortune a recent migrant from Africa. Set in the mid-late 50s in London, and through the developing friendship between Fortune and Pew, the book exams the post war migration of people from the colonies, to the UK. Without fear or favour it looks at their difficulties fitting in to London culture, and the difficulties the British have adapting to them. MacInnes artfully switches between the point of view of Pew and Fortune, examining issues of racism, relationships, mixed race romance, mixed race children, differences between migrants from the African countries and the West Indies, and dealings with the law. The likeable and believable characters and scenarios make this a great read.

"City of Spades" by Colin MacInnes is one of cult classic London Trilogy series; the other two books being "Absolute Beginners" and "Mr Love and Justice". They are three separate, unrelated stories and can be read in any order. I loved everything about this book, and "City of Spades" has now risen to my favourite among the three.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setting: London, 1957 - Montgomery Pew has just been appointed to a government post to help colonial immigrants settle into English society and avoid some of the pitfalls lying in wait. His first appointment is with a young Nigerian man, Johnny Fortune, who has come to study meteorology. But it is not long before Johnny is drawn into the seedier pursuits of elements of the black immigrant community. Montgomery gets more involved with Johnny and his friends than perhaps he should and, together with his friend Theodora, they visit clubs and parties frequented by Johnny and his new acquaintances.
This book, written in 1957, is very much a product of its time with its stereotypical and non-politically correct characters - I considered it quite possible that the author even intended it as a satirical look at such stereotypes in English society at the time and from that point of view I found it quite entertaining, although the ending was a bit sudden and inconclusive. 7/10.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book. It was a super easy read with a good group of characters, if at times confusing keeping track of who's who. I liked the idea of showing the racial issues in the UK at the time from both an African guy newly come to London and a white Englishman, how they interpreted each other's actions, etc. It didn't ring very true, however. A bit too fairytale-like, despite the negative things that happen to the characters from time to time. But who knows if that was even the intention. I've read Absolute Beginners and loved the way it captures teen life and this novel, one of the other London Novels, seems to me, as far as I would know, to capture the black immigrant experience, at least what it would feel like.

[Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great! Dated but fab slice of late 50's life
Really racist (I expected that) but interesting, white author in 50's UK writes a novel set in "Black London" from the perspective of a Nigerian Immigrant.
Quite atypical of its time.
The 50's period stuff was evocative - the nightlife, reefer peddlers - reminded me of Iceburg Slim, Chester Himes and Autobigraphy of Malcolm X.

In a way it reminded me of Andrea Levy "small island" similar time period (although Levy can REALLY write)

The problems with this book, are problems with books of this era, inauthentic dialogue,sketchy characters etc

Dated, of its time. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast-moving, well-told caricature of racial relations in 1950's London. McInnes uses broad strokes in dissecting the characters, who all have a curious habit of making dubious decisions. The story and the style have not dated well. McInnes tried to encase his commentary on the races in the words of his protagonists, and although the intent was most likely pure (he was a journalist), it sometimes causes uncomfortably stilted and shady burlesques. But it's not boring.

[Umi · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those books whose popularity in their day one can understand, but whose datedness today makes one cringe a bit in the waiting lounge at Tegel. It has its moments, sure, but overall doesn't even inspire much comment beyond the aforementioned.

[Ian Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘City of Spades’ is a 1957 novel written by Colin MacInnes at the height of the 1950’s immigration drive in Britain and it tells the story of Johnny Fortune from Largos, Nigeria and his experience’s as an economic migrant to London. Some of the more choice insults for Africans are present in this book but Johnny is very happy to be a spade considering himself to be the Ace of Spades which I’m not convinced would be worn quite so well, his referring to his white friend Montgomery Pew as ‘Jumble’ his pronunciation of John Bull is fantastic but isn’t a name I’ve come across before.

As you can imagine Johnny comes up against racist landlady’s and Police as well as the drug dealers and small time gangsters who’s brush he has himself been tarred. I imagine the world MacInnes describes is not a bleak or violent as the reality undoubtedly was however this is a very earnest book and although the liberal sentiment it spells out is fairly predictable it is still worth repeating.

It is very unfortunate that some fifty years after the publication of this book some of the issues it outlines are still very current however that does mean that it hasn’t dated at all and reads as though it was written in this millennium.

[P.D.R. Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel and author have rave reviews elsewhere. The story just wasn't 'my cup of tea' as I found the main male characters distinctly MCP boors.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars. Fascinating read!

This book centers around the seedy underbelly of London's African and West Indian immigrant communities in the 1950's. Specifically, it follows two protagonists, who start off as very different people: a white, middle class, self-proclaimed liberal, who works in the office of immigrant affairs, and a black college freshman, fresh off the boat from Lagos, Nigeria.

This book embodies the seedy, half-drunk ethos of the beat generation, filtered through the lens of the black immigrant experience in Britain. There is a shade of noir, here, but ultimately, this isn't a crime story, it's an immigrant story.

Viewing this book through the lens of history, like the white protagonist, the author seems very assured of his progressive attitudes, but his writing betrays a bit more racism than he imagines. Still, when you consider what was written, this is a pretty open-minded and forward-thinking work.

Worth a read, for sure, but nothing life-changing.

[Mikko Hongisto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hieno kuvaus 50-luvun Lontoosta, kerrottu kahden eri henkilön äänellä. Siirtolaisuusteemasta löytyy kaikuja nykypäivän Suomeen asti.

[Barak · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book to read, taking place at the end of the 1950' in London, where Black (Spades) and Whites (Jumbles) intermingle in various ways.
It was interesting to see the prejudices on both sides + the dialogues sounded genuine.

[Aiisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

race and class relations in the late 1950's, friendship, colonialism, Britishness, un-wed mothers

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A singular voice. Great characters, great dialog.

[Silent Way · Rating 2 out of 5]

Readable but the protagonists were difficult to believe or like.

[Tom Minney · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable story from the 1950s London, describing the clash of different worldviews as African immigrants arrive in the city. It is told by different narrators, initially Montgomery Pew, a young white man taking up a civil service job in as Assistant Welfare Officer in the Colonial Office (the British Empire was still going strong). The other narrator is Johnny Fortune, arrived from Nigeria age 18 to study metereology.
Of course, attitudes are dated but it is an enjoyable read because of the story-telling, characterization and descriptions of sides of London life that many passed every day and never knew. Many of the lively cast of characters are good people, at least some of the time, the rest are villains. I wonder if its a story without heroes? Certainly no sunset endings, although both sister Peach and sailor Laddy Boy are welcome islands of stability.
Montgomery and many of the other white characters are fascinated with the vitality of Africans coming to rather drab, war-damaged London, and willing to step into dangerous situations in search of the party ("I find this place quite gripping. An Elizabethan fragment come to life in our regimented world"). Johnny is full of street wisdom from home, and enjoys asserting himself, no doubt retracing his illustrious father's student days.
I most enjoyed MacInnes characterizations, even if caricatured, of an buzzing cast of characters, all of whom manage to say a lot, mostly in a few words. There are aspiring African politicians working towards independence, drug dealers and users stranded and unable to return home for losing face, hard-nosed detectives, hookers with heart, pimps, two very different lawyers, the mysterious Alfy Bongo, black American GIs, a flamboyant West Indian dance troupe. The story telling and pace can be irregular, but the novel is mostly about MacInnes view of happened behind London's night time doors and meeting the characters who inhabited it during pre-independence 1950s.
The first in the trilogy, all about London and its characters, but unconnected stories. Looking forward to the next two.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

City of Spades follows two main characters - Johnny Macdonald Fortune and Montgomery Pew. Johnny Fortune is a Nigerian immigrant to London, who arrives intending to study meteorology. Spoiler alert: that doesn't happen. Montgomery Pew is the immigration welfare officer in charge of making sure minorities are able to "assimilate smoothly" into London. These two cross paths and become unusual friends. Their friendship leads to much discussion about the interaction between races, mixed-race children, and ultimately, the differences between the experiences of black people ("the Spades") and white people ("the Jumbles") in London.

Johnny soon falls into the wrong crowd- one of prostitutes, drug dealers, and criminals. I found Johnny's fate to be quite sad - he goes to London with much opportunity but ultimately returns to Africa penniless, with a prison stint to boot. London was not fair to him- I think that was the point of the story. Montgomery, on the other hand, while also poor, has more opportunities handed to him simply because he is white.

This has to be on the top of the list of most racist books I have ever read - though this is a product of the time period in which it was written. I am sure the 1950s London (post-Hitler) atmosphere was very tense in terms of race-relations. However, there were some parts of this that are still uncomfortably relevant in the U.S. - namely, police officers arresting innocent black men simply because they are black. Johnny was picked up for a bogus charge and was only acquitted because two white people stood up for him in court. Should more white people be standing up for the injustices facing blacks in America today? Food for thought.....

Ultimately, this novel was a very interesting snapshot of a very interesting time period in history. While I've come to terms with never being able to travel to every place in the world, at least I can visit them through books. Today, I traveled to the criminal underworld of London, and met many people dealt an unfair hand. I look forward to reading the next two books in the series - though I hear they are standalone and don't have much to do with one another. We shall see.

[Kaitlyn Vasvari · Rating 3 out of 5]

City of Spades follows two main characters - Johnny Macdonald Fortune and Montgomery Pew. Johnny Fortune is a Nigerian immigrant to London, who arrives intending to study meteorology. Spoiler alert: that doesn't happen. Montgomery Pew is the immigration welfare officer in charge of making sure minorities are able to "assimilate smoothly" into London. These two cross paths and become unusual friends. Their friendship leads to much discussion about the interaction between races, mixed-race children, and ultimately, the differences between the experiences of black people ("the Spades") and white people ("the Jumbles") in London.

Johnny soon falls into the wrong crowd- one of prostitutes, drug dealers, and criminals. I found Johnny's fate to be quite sad - he goes to London with much opportunity but ultimately returns to Africa penniless, with a prison stint to boot. London was not fair to him- I think that was the point of the story. Montgomery, on the other hand, while also poor, has more opportunities handed to him simply because he is white.

This has to be on the top of the list of most racist books I have ever read - though this is a product of the time period in which it was written. I am sure the 1950s London (post-Hitler) atmosphere was very tense in terms of race-relations. However, there were some parts of this that are still uncomfortably relevant in the U.S. - namely, police officers arresting innocent black men simply because they are black. Johnny was picked up for a bogus charge and was only acquitted because two white people stood up for him in court. Should more white people be standing up for the injustices facing blacks in America today? Food for thought.....

Ultimately, this novel was a very interesting snapshot of a very interesting time period in history. While I've come to terms with never being able to travel to every place in the world, at least I can visit them through books. Today, I traveled to the criminal underworld of London, and met many people dealt an unfair hand. I look forward to reading the next two books in the series - though I hear they are standalone and don't have much to do with one another. We shall see.

[Tuuli Tammenkoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tämän(kin) nappasin kirjastosta mukaan ihan vaan tyylikkään kannen perusteella. Onneksi nappasin, tämä oli nimittäin loistava lukukokemus!


1950-luvun Lontoo, Siirtomaaosaston sosiaalivirasto, maanalaiset klubit, Afrikasta ja Karibialta tulleet siirtolaiset alakulttuureineen, kolonialismin perintö, rasismi ja ennakkoluulot.


Kaksi eri kertojaa, sosiaaliviraston nuori virkailija Montgomery Pew ja Lagosista meteorologiopintoja suorittamaan saapunut nuori ja toiveikas Johnny Macdonald Fortune, joiden tiet kohtaavat, eikä kummankaan elämä enää ole entisensä. Kolmas päähenkilö on itseoikeutetusti Lontoo, jonka kadunkulmilla, kapakoissa ja asuntoloissa lukijaa kuljetetaan. Brixtonista Maida Valeen ja Regent's Parkista Hollowayhin ja East Endiin, koko ajan ollaan menossa jonnekin. Punaiset bussit mainitaan kai kerran, mutta muuten Turistilontoo jää täysin taka-alalle - Patakaupunki elää undergroundissa ja alakulttuureissa. Ja miten elääkin! Näin väkevää ja elävää Lontoon - tai minkään muunkaan kaupungin kuvausta en ole aikoihin, ehkä milloinkaan, lukenut.


Ihmisten välisiä suhteita ja (ala)kulttuurien törmäyksiä tutkitaan melkein sosiologisella tarkkuudella, mutta tämä ei syö tarinaa tippaakaan - päinvastoin. Tosi kiinnostavasti tarkastellaan myös patojen (mustat) ja jumblejen (britit) rinnakkais- ja limittäiseloa sekä ennakkoluuloja toisiaan kohtaan. Kerronta on samaan aikaan kriittistä ja lempeää, ja haastaa lukijaa ajattelemaan monesta eri näkökulmasta. Osansa saavat niin valkoiset pelastajat kun helpon rahan perässä rötöstelyn tielle luisuvat siirtolaiset.


Tämä oli todella, todella hyvä kirja. Ja hämmästyttävissä määrin aikaansa edellä. Välillä on melkein vaikea uskoa, että tämä on kirjoitettu 50-luvulla, koska kirja voisi monin paikoin hyvin kuvata esimerkiksi nykypäivän Suomea.


Erityiskiitosta ansaitsee myös Antti Nylénin suomennos, joka herättää McInnesin kirjoittaman dialogin henkiin.


Ja tulipa muuten kova hinku matkustaa taas Lontooseen.

[Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine. I only read it because David Bowie has Absolute Beginners, by the same author, on his list of the 100 books that influenced him most, and City of Spades precedes Absolute Beginners in Colin MacInnes's London Trilogy. I really only wanted to read Absolute Beginners, but I thought, as with many trilogies, that I'd have to read this one first to understand it. However, apparently there are no overlapping characters or plot between the novels so it would have been fine had I not read this. Honestly, I don't feel I would have missed much if I hadn't. The cool 50s British slang is probably the best part of the book: "hep," "blow," "charge," "poncing," etc. The characters are pretty vivid as well but, eh. It's not a bad novel, but overall forgettable.

[Sam Romilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the London Trilogy in succession. They do deserve to be read together although there is no link between the novels apart from setting and time. One common theme is the life of "ponces" and the women whose earnings they take. The author seems to have a different understanding of "ponces" being something more than a "pimp". The "ponce" does not seem to do anything for his money but provide some kind of companionship, almost a token boyfriend being paid with the earnings of the prostitute. It does not sound very realistic but given how this appears in each of the books gives it some importance in any review. The other theme is the use of the term "spade" to refer to the growing african community in Britain as well as to the american african soldiers still in the country after the war. In the book the term "spade" is not derogatory but used from my perspective more to express coolness. This first book is a brave attempt to describe the life of the african community in London in the early fifties. Even though some characters are typecast and there is a condescending cliched view of things at least he tried. He also described the endemic racism and police discrimination that was ever present then and continues on to this day.

[Joe Nicholl · Rating 5 out of 5]

City of Spades (1957) by Colin MacInnes is Excellent! It's the first book of MacInnes London Trilogy...It's a slice of time kind of novel...London in the 1050's with a look at black immigrants making a home for themselves in London. The Story follows two guys newly arrived to London from Lagos, Nigeria, one white, Pew, 29 years old, a college counselor, and Johnny, black, a nineteen year old college student. As you follow the path of the two (each p.o.v. on alternating chapters) you get a real feel of London at that period. Without giving any spoilers you'll fine the reasons both Pew & Johnny traveled to London for unravels very quickly with both finding themselves facing the criminal underworld and the corrupt law. Violence is always just around the corner but so is compassion...An easy read but well written, City of Spades is very entertaining and will definitely take you of to another place and time...I'd have to say this book is a Classic...

[Vanyo666 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started well, but then it diluted itself in anecdotes without much progress to the story other than the unavoidable downward spiral of the titular nigerian spade, pregging two white gals who could not resist him and then going back home with his tail between his hind legs.

The most interesting bits were the alternate points of view of the white narrator and the spade protagonist, but the white guy is rather flat. I mean, other than his admiration for the spade and his allowing himself to get involved in all sorts of doubtful excursions just for the fun of it. He does not get any action, so one has to suspect he is also in thrall of the spade himself.

So what about the colored epithets and seeming prejudice that no spade could come to any good in 1957 England? Is this on-point observation or dated worldview? Is it still this way?

[Daniel Polansky]

A directionless cracker becomes fascinated by London’s immigrant black population. Like if VS Naipaul was a 60s hipster, a cynical if not heartless commentary on the difficulties and misunderstandings of interethnic interaction.

[Andrew Macfarlane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adequate enough and to some extent probably quite realistic. I became a bit uneasy about the very speedy deterioration of the characters into the stereotypes I have spent my life telling people don't exist

[Jarvo · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of Colin MacInnes' London books, will review properly when I've finished the trilogy.