The Making of London : London in Contemporary Literature

London has become the focus of a ferocious imaginative energy since the rise of Thatcher. The Making of London analyses the body of exceptional work by writers who have unconditionally committed their writing to the many lives of a city undergoing complex transformations. The book traces a major shift in the representation of the capital city, from the postmodern obsession with textuality, the shoring up of London's myths against a declining social fabric, and an exuberant multicultural utopia, to an anxious post-9/11 metropolis that has fallen apart. Is London undone? Authors covered include Maureen Duffy, Michael Moorcock, J. G. Ballard, Angela Carter, Iain Sinclair, Peter Ackroyd, Salman Rushdie, Martin Amis, Ian McEwan, Hanif Kureishi, Will Self, Zadie Smith and Monica Ali. London Has Become The Focus Of A Ferocious Imaginative Energy Since The Rise Of Thatcher. The Making Of London Analyses The Body Of Exceptional Work By Writers Who Have Unconditionally Committed Their Writing To The Many Lives Of A City Undergoing Complex Transformations. The Book Traces A Major Shift In The Representation Of The Capital City, From The Postmodern Obsession With Textuality, The Shoring Up Of London's Myths Against A Declining Social Fabric, And An Exuberant Multicultural Utopia, To An Anxious Post-9/11 Metropolis That Has Fallen Apart. Is London Undone? Authors Covered Include Maureen Duffy, Michael Moorcock, J.g. Ballard, Angela Carter, Iain Sinclair, Peter Ackroyd, Salman Rushdie, Martin Amis, Ian Mcewan, Hanif Kureishi, Will Self, Zadie Smith And Monica Ali. List Of Illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- List Of Abbreviations -- Introduction From 'ellowen Deeowen' To 'babylondon': London Is A Language -- 'fabricked Out Of Literature And Myth': Maureen Duffy's Londons -- 'of Real Experience Mixed With Myth': Michael Moorcock€ -- 'a Zoo Fit For Psychopaths': J.g. Ballard Versus London -- 'struck Out Of Pure Invention': Iain Sinclair's London -- 'in Pre-ordained Patterns': Peter Ackroyd's London Palimpsests -- 'beyond The Responsibility Of Place': Ian Mcewan's Londons -- 'in A Prose So Diagonal And Mood Warped': Martin Amis's London Scatology -- 'through A Confusion Of Languages': Salman Rushdie And Hanif Kureishi -- 'kyan You Imagine Dat?': The New London Languages Of Zadie Smith And Monica Ali -- Conclusion: London Undone? -- Chronology Of Contemporary London -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index. By Sebastian Groes ; With Photographs By Sarah Baxter. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. London has become the focus of a ferocious imaginative energy since the rise of Thatcher. The Making of London analyses the body of work by writers who have committed their writing to the many lives of a city undergoing complex transformations, tracing a major shift in the representation of the capital city. London has become the focus of a ferocious imaginative energy since the rise of Thatcher. The Making of London analyses the body of exceptional work by writers who have unconditionally committed their writing to the many lives of a city undergoing complex transformations. The book traces a major shift in the representation of the capital city, from the postmodern obsession with textuality, the shoring up of London's myths against a declining social fabric, and an exuberant multicultural utopia, to an anxious post-9/11 metropolis that has fallen apart. Is London undone? Authors covered include Maureen Duffy, Michael Moorcock, J.G. Ballard, Angela Carter, Iain Sinclair, Peter Ackroyd, Salman Rushdie, Martin Amis, Ian McEwan, Hanif Kureishi, Will Self, Zadie Smith and Monica Ali Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction: From ‘ellowen deeowen’ to ‘Babylondon’: London is a Language....Pages 1-16 ‘Fabricked out of Literature and Myth’: Maureen Duffy’s Londons....Pages 17-41 ‘Of Real Experience Mixed with Myth’: Michael Moorcock’s Authentic London Myths....Pages 42-66 ‘A Zoo fit for Psychopaths’: J. G. Ballard versus London....Pages 67-93 ‘Struck out of Pure Invention’: Iain Sinclair and the Problem of London....Pages 94-119 ‘In Preordained Patterns’: Peter Ackroyd and the Voices of London....Pages 120-142 ‘Beyond the Responsibility of Place’: Ian McEwan’s Londons....Pages 143-166 ‘In a Prose so Diagonal and Mood-Warped’: Martin Amis’s Scatological London....Pages 167-190 ‘Through a Confusion of Languages’: Mastering London with Salman Rushdie and Hanif Kureishi....Pages 191-220 ‘Kyan you imagine dat?’: The New London Languages of Zadie Smith and Monica Ali....Pages 221-250 Conclusion: London Undone?....Pages 251-261 Back Matter....Pages 262-309 "Groes has produced an impressive book, wide-ranging in its scope, subtle in its analysis and adept at keeping numerous intellectual balls in the air. It will, I have little doubt, become a standard text for students and academics working on 'contemporary' London literature, and English literature more generally."--Alex Murray, University of Exeter, UK Authors covered include Maureen Duffy Michael Moorcock, J. G. Ballard, Angela Carter, Iain Sinclair, Peter Ackroyd, Salman Rushdie, Martin Amis, Ian McEwan, Hanif Kureish, Will Self, Zadie Smith and Monica All Book jacket