Baron's Court, All Change by Terry Taylor

 

Yet another find recommended by the fine people at Ugly Things, Baron's Court, All Change is, as the cover proudly displays, "the Holy Grail of hipster novels"! Set in England in the mid-1950's, the story follows the exploits of the unnamed teenage protagonist, an early Modernist, who can't be bothered by the folks living their straight'n'narrow lives and is instead enamored with spiritualism and jazz. The first leads him to an affair with a sexy, somewhat older woman, and the later sets him on a path straight to "Charge" - marijuana! 

Loosely based on Taylor's own life, he writes in a swingin', hipster jive speak, which was quite controversial at the time, especially as he would write as people would speak, with "swear words" and depictions of bohemian lifestyles. Of course, considering the time, there are some non-PC phrasings, but nothing meant as insulting - it is just the way they spoke at the time.

As would happen in stories of this sort, the marijuana pretty much takes over - continual partying, buying, selling, etc., with some of the descriptions sounding pretty on the mark and some a bit dramatically over-the-top. Of course, there is some other drama, as well, with various women, a pregnant sister, drug dealers, violence, police and more, all told in a compelling hipster-speak.

It's a great read with a somewhat unresolved ending, as often these stories have, but highly entertaining and compelling throughout. A fun find depicting the early days of just-pre-swingin' London. Seek it out!