Product Description

Jonathon Green's oral history of the sixties 'underground', "Days in the Life", has been until now the most complete account of that celebrated - and much maligned - decade. In "All Dressed Up" he expands on that book to provide a fascinating and controversial overview of the cultural and political events of the decade. Comprehensive, detailed, often hilarious, this will be the definitive account of the sixties in Britain, challenging the myths fostered by those who were there and enlightening those who were not. Green's sixties begin with the invention of the 'teenager', with the Teds, the Beats and CND; they end with the OZ trial and with two of the decade's most lasting legacies: the women's movement and gay politics. In between his focus is on the whole panoply of that extraordinary decade, from sex, drugs and rock'n'roll to student protest, the anti-Vietnam movement and the radical social legislation - on abortion, obscenity, homosexuality and corporal punishment - pioneered by Roy Jenkins. The underground press, the Arts Lab 'Swinging London', Anti-psychiatry, the hippie trail, the festivals, the drug busts - Green surveys them all with affectionate but critical eye, celebrating the prevailing optimism of the sixties while remaining far from blind from its absurdities.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36156 in Books
• Published on: 1999-08-19
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
In the introduction to All Dressed Up, Jonathon Green calls the 60s the pivotal decade of the 20th century. This is a bold statement--the First World War, the 20s, 30s and Second World War have had a far greater global impact. But there is no doubt that the 60s do hold a special place in Western culture--not least for those who lived through them. The main claim to the 60s is that they saw the birth of the youth culture that thrives today. Before then society deferred exclusively to age and experience; teenagers were just youngsters going through an awkward phase on their way to becoming adults rather than people in their own right. This was largely due to war--or absence of it. Previous generations of young people had grown up expecting to fight a war. While the Cold War hovered over the late 50s and early 60s, it was generally seen as a potential one- off armageddon rather than a protracted ground affair, so this generation was encouraged to envision a life without war. Moreover, some of the affluence of this period had filtered down to them and for the first time they became a potent economic force. The Second World War produced another, more subtle, effect. Those who fought in it had few doubts they were fighting for a good cause and that victory would improve the world. This idealism remained with the younger generation and was reflected in much of the efforts to create a better, alternative society. With hindsight, most of the "tune in, turn on, dropout" messages of the 60s appear naive and faintly ridiculous, but in some ways this utopianism has more to recommend it than the jaded cynicism that followed.

Jonathon Green worked on several underground magazines, including the infamous Oz, during the 60s and he is both a fine advocate and historian of the period. He takes us faithfully and, at times, lovingly through the political counterculture of sex and drugs and rock'n'roll. Surviving hippies invariably reckon they have the definitive take on the60s and no doubt many will come crawling out of the woodwork to take issue with All Dressed Up. But if you weren't there--or you were just too tuned in and turned on to remember--then stick with Green. --John Crace

Customer Reviews

A definitive and witty history of a fascinating movement
The 1960s counterculture was the most exraordinary and enthralling social phenomenon of modern times. Based around the interviews he conducted for his classic oral history of the milieu, 'Days in the Life' (1988), Green's new book, while peppered with sardonic reflections from the vantagepoint of hindsight and worldly maturity, effectively conveys the sheer exhilaration of this seminal, idealistic, quintessentially youthful movement. All aspects of the counterculture in England (i.e. London plus a few free festivals) are covered - not just the usual story of psychedelic rock music, but performance poetry, anti-psychiatry, gay liberation, White Panthers, pop art, Grosvenor Square protests, the Angry Brigade, the Oz trial and much else. The author utilises his knowledge as a lexicographer to write with a rare stylish wit, offering shrewd, well-measured judgements without ever becoming too dry for the casual reader. The fact that Green was there himself - as an editor of Friends, Oz and IT - adds a keenness to the history, without rendering it unbalanced or self-indulgent. 'All Dressed Up' provides us with lessons from the days when radicals of all persuasions felt that the future was on their side. The counterculture provided its fair share of tragedy, bigotry and banality, but its sheer idealism contrasts so markedly with modern-day cynicism that it is hard not to envy those whose lives it enrichened. We can't revive the sixties, but we can all learn from what happened then, and the best way to do so is to read 'All Dressed Up', a thoroughly entertaining story of an inspiring cultural adventure.

In depth and informative
If you are fascinated by sixties culture and wish to find out more, this book is a good read. It is not an entertaining review of the decade: High Sixties by ??? is better for that. Rather, it is an in depth analysis of the sixties counter-culture and its origins, some of which stretch back farther than you would ever imagine. Everything from pot to gay liberation is explored here with a welcome impartiality. Occasionally a little heavy, but always informative.

Retraction, apology and substantial damages...
Caroline Coon successfully challenged the tabloid guesswork relating to Release in this book. Wild bargepoles wouldn't get me to read one word of it, let alone buy the dog.