The publication of the Man Booker Prize shortlist (announced on 11 September) always leads to reflection in the media about prevailing literary trends and what these titles say about our times. Books can become symbolic of their age, but the process is easier to identify in retrospect. These ten titles from the 1960s summon up the spirit of a decade that they both reflected and helped to define.
The area to the north-west of Centre Point has been described as London’s Noho – an upmarket companion to neighbouring Soho. While some traditionalists prefer Fitzrovia, it’s worth noting even that name has a relatively recent history, only surfacing in the early part of the 20th century. The inspiration was the pub at its heart – the Fitzroy Tavern – which became a regular haunt for writers including George Orwell, George Bernard Shaw and Dylan Thomas.
As well as examining Centre Point and the era that created it, this blog also explores the place it occupies in London: a crossroads where many strands of culture and history meet.
