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Soho in the Fifties
This is a celebration of London's most fascinating quarter, attempting to capture the intrigue, enticement and atmosphere of the Bohemian world, illustrated with photographs. The author decribes the principal venues of the time such as the York Minster, Wheeler's, the Caves de France and the Colony and draws profiles of the true Soho personalities he knew, among them David Archer, John Deakin, Francis Bacon, Muriel Belcher, Nina Hamnett and Colin MacInnes. Dan Farson has also written "The Man Who Wrote Dracula", "Henry Williamson: A Personal Memoir", "Out of Step", "A Window by the Sea" and "Jack the Ripper".
- GenresNonfictionLondon
208 pages, Hardcover
First published November 9, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 5, 2022
Soho In The Fifties is a very personal set of portraits by Daniel Farson who knew all of Soho's most celebrated inhabitants during the 1950s, and beyond, all the way into the late 1970s.
The book is split into three parts: the first details a day in the life of Soho from dawn to dusk; the second, entitled Addicted To Soho looks in more depth at aspects of Soho life; and finally, and from the perspective of the late 1980s when the book was written, Daniel Farson reflects on the area's resurgence.
Daniel Farson convincingly and credibly evokes the French pub, Wheeler's, the Caves de France, the Colony Rooms, which were all notable Bohemian venues, and - along the way - we meet such luminaries as John Minton, Francis Bacon, Colin MacInnes, Nina Hamnett, Colin Wilson, Jeffrey Bernard, John Deakin, Henrietta Moraes, Lucian Freud and Dylan Thomas.
There's a strong focus on John Deakin, who emerges as one of the quintessential characters of the area during the 1950s and early 1960s. John Deakin was one of the great British postwar photographers, renowned for his penetrating portraits, haunting street scenes and inventive fashion work. He worked for Vogue however the lure of the Soho pubs undermined any hope of regular employment. His scathing humour and putdowns are vividly brought to life, as is the extent to which he was both loved and loathed.
I was gratified to notice that, in amongst the romanticised memories of the Colony Room, Daniel Farson acknowledges the morbidity of an all day drinking club whilst everyday life continues out in the world: "You feel like the fish in the tank above the cash register, swimming aimlessly among artificial water weeds, mindless in warm water".
I've enjoyed a few books that explore the Soho of the 1950s. These include Dog Days in Soho: One Man's Adventures in 1950s Bohemia by Nigel Richardson, which I loved, and which both celebrates and debunks the romanticism that surrounds 1950s Soho and reveals some dark truths about sexuality, jealousy, creativity, revenge, status, reinvention, love, self-destruction, obsession, duty and the human condition. Daniel Farson's portrayal in this book is ultimately quite unflattering.
Another book which covers similar ground is Fear and Loathing in Fitzrovia by Paul Willetts, which is the biography of English writer and dandy, Julian Maclaren-Ross (1912-64), and which also splendidly evokes the bohemian world of mid-twentieth-century Soho.
I preferred both Dog Days in Soho: One Man's Adventures in 1950s Bohemia and Fear and Loathing in Fitzrovia to Soho In The Fifties however that is primarily because the other two books are so good.
Anyone interested in the Soho of the 1950s will find much to enjoy in this eye-witness account of a unique place and period.
3/5
Postscript:
In May 2014 I visited the John Deakin exhibition (on between 11 April 2014 and 13 July 2014) at the Photographers Gallery in London.
John Deakin features extensively in Soho In The Fifties
Under the Influence: John Deakin and the Lure of Soho explored the hidden corners and colourful characters of 1950s and early 1960s London Soho, as seen through the eyes of John Deakin (1912-1972). It was great.
Have a look at this, an interesting interview with Robin Muir, exhibition curator of Under the Influence: John Deakin and the Lure of Soho:
http://vimeo.com/91624430
The book is split into three parts: the first details a day in the life of Soho from dawn to dusk; the second, entitled Addicted To Soho looks in more depth at aspects of Soho life; and finally, and from the perspective of the late 1980s when the book was written, Daniel Farson reflects on the area's resurgence.
Daniel Farson convincingly and credibly evokes the French pub, Wheeler's, the Caves de France, the Colony Rooms, which were all notable Bohemian venues, and - along the way - we meet such luminaries as John Minton, Francis Bacon, Colin MacInnes, Nina Hamnett, Colin Wilson, Jeffrey Bernard, John Deakin, Henrietta Moraes, Lucian Freud and Dylan Thomas.
There's a strong focus on John Deakin, who emerges as one of the quintessential characters of the area during the 1950s and early 1960s. John Deakin was one of the great British postwar photographers, renowned for his penetrating portraits, haunting street scenes and inventive fashion work. He worked for Vogue however the lure of the Soho pubs undermined any hope of regular employment. His scathing humour and putdowns are vividly brought to life, as is the extent to which he was both loved and loathed.
I was gratified to notice that, in amongst the romanticised memories of the Colony Room, Daniel Farson acknowledges the morbidity of an all day drinking club whilst everyday life continues out in the world: "You feel like the fish in the tank above the cash register, swimming aimlessly among artificial water weeds, mindless in warm water".
I've enjoyed a few books that explore the Soho of the 1950s. These include Dog Days in Soho: One Man's Adventures in 1950s Bohemia by Nigel Richardson, which I loved, and which both celebrates and debunks the romanticism that surrounds 1950s Soho and reveals some dark truths about sexuality, jealousy, creativity, revenge, status, reinvention, love, self-destruction, obsession, duty and the human condition. Daniel Farson's portrayal in this book is ultimately quite unflattering.
Another book which covers similar ground is Fear and Loathing in Fitzrovia by Paul Willetts, which is the biography of English writer and dandy, Julian Maclaren-Ross (1912-64), and which also splendidly evokes the bohemian world of mid-twentieth-century Soho.
I preferred both Dog Days in Soho: One Man's Adventures in 1950s Bohemia and Fear and Loathing in Fitzrovia to Soho In The Fifties however that is primarily because the other two books are so good.
Anyone interested in the Soho of the 1950s will find much to enjoy in this eye-witness account of a unique place and period.
3/5
Postscript:
In May 2014 I visited the John Deakin exhibition (on between 11 April 2014 and 13 July 2014) at the Photographers Gallery in London.
John Deakin features extensively in Soho In The Fifties
Under the Influence: John Deakin and the Lure of Soho explored the hidden corners and colourful characters of 1950s and early 1960s London Soho, as seen through the eyes of John Deakin (1912-1972). It was great.
Have a look at this, an interesting interview with Robin Muir, exhibition curator of Under the Influence: John Deakin and the Lure of Soho:
http://vimeo.com/91624430
April 30, 2012
In many ways this can be the companion book to Boris Vian's version of Paris, Manual of Saint-Germain des Prés. Writer, photographer and media TV host Daniel Farson takes us on a tour of Soho London circ. 1950's where a great deal of time was spent at local caffs (the British diner), bars, and restaurants. it was pretty much the world of its most famous citizens the painter Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. But the real star of the scene was photographer John Deakin, an outlandish personality at the time, who struck disgust, annoyance and in a funny way friendship among the local citizens of Soho.
Farson has a talent in capturing the boozy bohemia of those times, and sees Soho as the ultimate destination against boredom and restrictions. More eccentric characters per block then perhaps anywhere else in the world, Soho is rich in music culture as well as literature. I have already started a good size collection of books on Soho - and the reason I like it is because of the conservative nature of the world at the time, and the tension that these loons bring to their culture. The edition I have was published in 1987, and its fully illustrated with photos by Farson, who had the talent or charm to capture these vibrant personalities doing what they do best - socializing and drinking. Essential!
Farson has a talent in capturing the boozy bohemia of those times, and sees Soho as the ultimate destination against boredom and restrictions. More eccentric characters per block then perhaps anywhere else in the world, Soho is rich in music culture as well as literature. I have already started a good size collection of books on Soho - and the reason I like it is because of the conservative nature of the world at the time, and the tension that these loons bring to their culture. The edition I have was published in 1987, and its fully illustrated with photos by Farson, who had the talent or charm to capture these vibrant personalities doing what they do best - socializing and drinking. Essential!
May 19, 2012
The premise, a single day spent loitering in various Soho establishments, seems a little artificial but works well. Daniel Farson paints colourful word-portraits of the various characters he encounters and manages to bring the place and the era to life.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews