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Banana Boy
Frank Norman was, at the age of three, put into the care of the Church of England Adoption Society, who in due course place him under the care of a wealthy woman who lived in Onslow Square, London. Thence, in mysterious circumstances, he was removed. He spent the next nine years of his life in three of Dr. Barnado's Homes.
It is of these early formative years that Frank Norman writes, giving us the first inside story of what it was like to be a 'banana' boy in the 1930s and 1940s. He writes simply and without self-pity. Most of the time he felt frustrated, but there were moments both of enjoyment, including his first fumbling approaches to 'dates' and later sex, and revolt.
A fascinating picture emerges, the Barnado's home characterised by Victorian attitudes to discipline and nurturing. As in 'Bang to Rights' (1958) and 'Stand On Me' (1960), in 'Banana Boy' (1969) Frank writes simply and with great insight, rarely dwelling upon the many deprivations he suffered, though he highlights the lack of any kind of love or affection as the root cause of his lack of educational achievement and general surliness and anger.
At the end of his tenure Frank Norman leaves the Barnado's homes, aged 16, to work in a nursery garden. He finally achieves freedom of a sort, to go and work for a travelling fair. This episode of Frank Norman's life is detailed in 'Dodgem Greaser' (1971).
It is of these early formative years that Frank Norman writes, giving us the first inside story of what it was like to be a 'banana' boy in the 1930s and 1940s. He writes simply and without self-pity. Most of the time he felt frustrated, but there were moments both of enjoyment, including his first fumbling approaches to 'dates' and later sex, and revolt.
A fascinating picture emerges, the Barnado's home characterised by Victorian attitudes to discipline and nurturing. As in 'Bang to Rights' (1958) and 'Stand On Me' (1960), in 'Banana Boy' (1969) Frank writes simply and with great insight, rarely dwelling upon the many deprivations he suffered, though he highlights the lack of any kind of love or affection as the root cause of his lack of educational achievement and general surliness and anger.
At the end of his tenure Frank Norman leaves the Barnado's homes, aged 16, to work in a nursery garden. He finally achieves freedom of a sort, to go and work for a travelling fair. This episode of Frank Norman's life is detailed in 'Dodgem Greaser' (1971).
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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About the author
Frank Norman
30 books10 followersFrank Norman (9 June 1930 – 23 December 1980) was a British novelist and playwright.
His reputation rests on his first memoir Bang to Rights (1958) and his musical play Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be (1960), but much of the remainder of his work remains fresh and readable. Norman's early success was based in part on the frankness of his memoirs and in part on the style of his writing, which contained both renditions of cockney speakers and his own poor spelling. Jeffrey Bernard in an obituary of Norman wrote that he was...
a 'natural' writer of considerable wit, powers of sardonic observation and with a razor sharp ear for dialogue particularly as spoken in the underworld.
Click here to read and contribute to a discussion thread about Frank Norman
His reputation rests on his first memoir Bang to Rights (1958) and his musical play Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be (1960), but much of the remainder of his work remains fresh and readable. Norman's early success was based in part on the frankness of his memoirs and in part on the style of his writing, which contained both renditions of cockney speakers and his own poor spelling. Jeffrey Bernard in an obituary of Norman wrote that he was...
a 'natural' writer of considerable wit, powers of sardonic observation and with a razor sharp ear for dialogue particularly as spoken in the underworld.
Click here to read and contribute to a discussion thread about Frank Norman
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 2, 2017
Frank Norman (9 June 1930 – 23 December 1980) was a British novelist and playwright. His reputation rests on his first memoir 'Bang to Rights' (1958) and his musical play 'Fings Ain't Wot They Used T’Be' (1960).
'Banana Boy' (1969) is the third book I’ve read by Frank Norman.
Frank Norman was, at the age of three, put into the care of the Church of England Adoption Society, who in placed him under the care of a wealthy aristocrat who lived in Onslow Square, London. However, for reasons Frank never established, he was moved on and spent the next nine years of his life in three of Dr. Barnado's Homes.
It is of these childhood years that Frank Norman writes, giving us an inside story of what it was like to be a 'banana' boy in the 1930s and 1940s. He writes simply and without self-pity. Most of the time he felt frustrated, but there were moments both of enjoyment, including his first fumbling approaches to 'dates' and later sex, and his ongoing rebellion against the status quo. Given that he was to become a successful writer it is a huge indictment of the era’s system that he was consistently considered backward and unteachable.
A fascinating picture emerges, the Barnado's homes characterised by Victorian attitudes to discipline and nurturing. As in 'Bang to Rights' (1958) and 'Stand On Me' (1960), in 'Banana Boy' (1969) Frank writes simply and with great insight, rarely dwelling upon the many deprivations he suffered, though he highlights the lack of any kind of love or affection as the root cause of his lack of educational achievement and general surliness and anger.
At the end of his tenure Frank Norman leaves the Barnado's homes, aged 16, to work in a nursery garden. He finally achieves freedom of a sort, to go and work for a travelling fair. This episode of Frank Norman's life is detailed in 'Dodgem Greaser' (1971) and I will read that one next with high expectations and great anticipation.
'Banana Boy' reminded me of 'Borstal Boy' by Brendan Behan which is set in the same era. Despite one being about borstal and the other about growing up in childrens' homes there are far more parallels than differences.
5/5
The cover of my 1969 Secker & Warburg hardback edition...
Backcover...
Book description...
It looks as though my edition was once shelved in a Dr. Barnado's home - the one in Abingdon, Berkshire...
'Banana Boy' (1969) is the third book I’ve read by Frank Norman.
Frank Norman was, at the age of three, put into the care of the Church of England Adoption Society, who in placed him under the care of a wealthy aristocrat who lived in Onslow Square, London. However, for reasons Frank never established, he was moved on and spent the next nine years of his life in three of Dr. Barnado's Homes.
It is of these childhood years that Frank Norman writes, giving us an inside story of what it was like to be a 'banana' boy in the 1930s and 1940s. He writes simply and without self-pity. Most of the time he felt frustrated, but there were moments both of enjoyment, including his first fumbling approaches to 'dates' and later sex, and his ongoing rebellion against the status quo. Given that he was to become a successful writer it is a huge indictment of the era’s system that he was consistently considered backward and unteachable.
A fascinating picture emerges, the Barnado's homes characterised by Victorian attitudes to discipline and nurturing. As in 'Bang to Rights' (1958) and 'Stand On Me' (1960), in 'Banana Boy' (1969) Frank writes simply and with great insight, rarely dwelling upon the many deprivations he suffered, though he highlights the lack of any kind of love or affection as the root cause of his lack of educational achievement and general surliness and anger.
At the end of his tenure Frank Norman leaves the Barnado's homes, aged 16, to work in a nursery garden. He finally achieves freedom of a sort, to go and work for a travelling fair. This episode of Frank Norman's life is detailed in 'Dodgem Greaser' (1971) and I will read that one next with high expectations and great anticipation.
'Banana Boy' reminded me of 'Borstal Boy' by Brendan Behan which is set in the same era. Despite one being about borstal and the other about growing up in childrens' homes there are far more parallels than differences.
5/5
The cover of my 1969 Secker & Warburg hardback edition...
Backcover...
Book description...
It looks as though my edition was once shelved in a Dr. Barnado's home - the one in Abingdon, Berkshire...
July 19, 2012
Very moving account of a child brought up in children's homes, going to try and get hold of the next one he wrote caleed dodgem greaser which details frank's experiences working on a travelling fair, frank norman went on to be a successful writer of plays and books despite being told as a child that he was 'backward' he was clearly a highly intelligent man who was deeply affected by being abandoned as a baby, highlights how different the care system was back in the forties and fifties. I first read this book as a teenager and never forgot it then found it again recently on amazon and re read it. He never did meet his real family. Very touching book, had me in tears in parts.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews