Part 6 - “Two things destroy writers: praise and alcohol” (or so said Len Deighton)

In which "Max." gets all loquaciously lyrical about London's laureates ...

As somebody who feels it’s never too late to learn more about one’s home town, I have accumulated a healthy smattering of London books, over the years. I’ve even read a few of them. Though, admittedly, not yet Peter Ackroyd’s hefty “London: The Biography” (2000) - a gift which has sat for many years, silently collecting dust and rebuking me, almost daily, for never getting past its Section One. It’s my own, personal “War & Peace”. I am filled with good intentions about finishing it “one day”; but I am always distracted by less intense reading options ... like the ‘phone directory. Amongst the many other London-themed books I HAVE managed to finish recently are: Travis Elborough’s Routemaster rhapsody, “The Bus We Loved”; Graham McPherson’s paean to disappearing London “Suggs and the City”; and Tom Quinn’s eclectic “London’s Strangest Tales”. Meanwhile, Ackroyd continues to stare me down accusingly, like my Jiminy Cricket-esque London reading conscience.

If you want to seek out factual writing about London, there is no shortage; and I won’t presume to try providing an exhaustive list here. There is also plenty of great London-centric fiction to choose from: whether Defoe or Dickens; Amis or Ali – or even Ackroyd (again). An interesting selection can be found on specialist websites such as:
https://www.londonfictions.com/ and http://literarylondon.org/

What I find equally enjoyable, however, is stumbling haphazardly across novels which turn out, unexpectedly, to have a strong London setting, or character. I’ve bumped into a couple recently which are not only great examples of their own specific genres; but are also, simultaneously, excellent evocations of this dirty old town. If you’ve already discovered them, you’ll know what I mean. If you haven’t, you could do a lot worse than check them out.

Marylebone-born Len Deighton, on set with Rotherhithe's finest:
Maurice Joseph Micklewhite Jr. - i.e. definitely NOT "Harry Palmer"

“The Ipcress File” (1962) - Len Deighton

Deighton's London setting is really rather poetic, in an anti-lyrical way: "I could hear the rain even before I drew the curtains back. December in London – the soot-covered tree outside was whipping itself into a frenzy". Famously filmed with Michael Caine in the lead role, you may already know that the title stands for “Induction of Psycho-Neuroses by Conditioned Reflex”; you might also know that Deighton accurately captured a post-war London, warts-and-all, just before she started ‘swinging’. In fact, much of the London across which he gives us a sweeping, ironic panorama is gone for good - the mood, at least, if not the fabric - but did you also remember that his central character is never actually named? He's not Deighton's “Harry Palmer” ... and not a lot of people know that! As another famous South-Londoner may never have actually said:

http://metro.co.uk/2011/03/23/michael-caine-i-never-said-not-a-lot-of-people-know-that-646227/

Bermondsey boy John Milne, author of gritty London novels.
His TV script-writing includes: Bergerac, Boon, Eastenders, Lovejoy, Silent Witness, Taggart & The Bill.

"The Moody Man" (1987) - John Milne

Renowned, multi-award-winning fellow writer Nicholas Shakespeare (no relation!) says of Milne, who followed 25 years after Deighton's foot-steps around the capital: “Raymond Chandler would have applauded his voice: bruised, tender, sharp, blunt and oh so sad … in that bloody-mindedness the spirit of Philip Marlowe is alive and kicking." His Jimmy Jenner character is a London private detective, with "a false right leg". He seems to have 'inspired' at least one other writer. J K Rowling's Cormoran Strike (a moody man ‘invented’ more than 25 years later again) is a London private detective with a false leg. How wizardly familiar! Milne makes much more of his London underworld settings, though (from Kensington to Canning Town) and is the far better writer (in one blogger's humble opinion) if, undeservedly, largely unknown. Track him down; and read his work!

Now, where's my copy of Ackroyd’s “London" gone? ...

"My Name's Michael Caine" - and yes, there IS another London-Suggs connection in there somewhere, for those prepared to look hard enough.

From Your Addicted London Buddy,

Max. ("F-H-W")