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. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 List of Illustrations......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 11 List of Abbreviations......Page 13 Introduction: From 'ellowen deeowen' to 'Babylondon': London is a Language......Page 16 1 'Fabricked out of Literature and Myth': Maureen Duffy's Londons......Page 32 2 'Of Real Experience Mixed with Myth': Michael Moorcock's Authentic London Myths......Page 57 3 'A Zoo fit for Psychopaths': J. G. Ballard versus London......Page 82 4 'Struck out of Pure Invention': Iain Sinclair and the Problem of London......Page 109 5 'In Preordained Patterns': Peter Ackroyd and the Voices of London......Page 135 6 'Beyond the Responsibility of Place': Ian McEwan's Londons......Page 168 7 'In a Prose so Diagonal and Mood-Warped': Martin Amis's Scatological London......Page 192 8 'Through a Confusion of Languages': Mastering London with Salman Rushdie and Hanif Kureishi......Page 216 9 'Kyan you imagine dat?': The New London Languages of Zadie Smith and Monica Ali......Page 246 Conclusion: London Undone?......Page 276 Notes......Page 287 Select Bibliography......Page 314 Index......Page 326 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 "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