The Patrick Hamilton Appreciation Society discussion

Peter wrote: "Bernard Kops....


...playwright, poet, and novelist from the once-Jewish East End"

Thanks Peter for highlighting Bernard Kops

Born in the East End of London, the son of Dutch Jewish immigrants,[1] Kops was evacuated from London in 1939, and recounted that experience in episode two of Thames Television’s TV series, The World at War, first broadcast in 1973.

His first play, The Hamlet of Stepney Green, was produced at the Oxford Playhouse in 1957. It is considered to be one of the keystones of the "New Wave" in British 'kitchen sink' drama.

His subsequent plays include Enter Solly Gold (1962), Ezra (1981, about Ezra Pound), Playing Sinatra (1991) and The Dreams of Anne Frank (1992, about Anne Frank). He has also written extensively for radio and television. His radio play Monster Man (1999) is about the creator of "King Kong", Willis O'Brien.

Kops wrote the television movie script Just One Kid for director/producer John Goldschmidt; the film was transmitted on the ITV Network in 1974, and won a Silver Hugo Award at the Chicago Film Festival. Kops then wrote the television film It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow (1975), about the Bethnal Green tube disaster of 1943, also for John Goldschmidt, and this was nominated for an International Emmy Award for Drama Series.

He has published volumes of poetry, autobiography, several novels, and a memoir of the East End, Bernard Kops' East End (2006). He has also written travelogues, including a series of articles about a trip to the United States (1999) and another about a journey to China (2000), both written for The Guardian.

In 1975, suffering from drug addiction, Kops made a suicide attempt; he writes about the incident and his successful journey to sobriety in his second autobiography, Shalom Bomb: Scenes from My Life.

Peter wrote: "I came across a copy (signed, no less) of his novel By The Waters Of Whitechapel which sounded promising...but unfortunately wasn't, at least for me."

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Peter wrote: "His earlier novel Awake for Mourning may be more interesting, but seems pretty much impossible to find. He has also written memoirs, including Bernard Kops' East End (which, confusingly, has "By the Waters of Whitechapel" as a subheading)."

Mark wrote: "I’ve been lazily searching for an affordable edition of Kops’ Awake for Mourning for a while now, but no dice. As you said, it doesn’t even seem to turn up at unaffordable prices

Interesting bit about it here:

https://www.stewarthomesociety.org/se..."

...the novel remains an effective piece of anti-fascist satire. At the end, Mike's teddy boy fans may riot in Trafalgar Square but this violence marks the failure and not the political ascension of Derek Bishop's New Youth Party.

I have a copy of
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
but it's some time since I read it. From what I remember it is quite atmospheric and does make use of London locations.

Thanks Martin

I bought a copy of Bernard Kops' East End: By the Waters of Whitechapel today, it may take me a while to get around to it but I will post here after reading.

Splendid news 👏🏻

It's a collection of writings from across his career - poetry, excerpts from plays, novels and autobiography.
Apart from the common theme of the East End they all seem to dwell on death, loss, and a sadness for changes to Jewish immigrant lives/lifestyle. Not a cheery collection but I would be willing to have a go at another full-length work.

Thanks for sharing that


Filled under promising 👌🏻