High Buildings Low Morals by Bob Baker

 

High Buildings Low Morals by Bob Baker

"Jumpin' Jack Flash: David Litvinoff" & "Beautiful Idiots and Brilliant Lunatics"

 

Tosh Berman on two books about London life in the 50s/60s

Writer Historian Rob Baker Regarding 20th Century London on Tosh Talks

o quote Noël Coward, from the back cover of Rob Baker's book "I don't know what London's coming to - the higher the buildings, the lower the morals." "High Buildings, Low Morals" is for me a classic book. I first discovered Baker's obsession on 20th Century London through his blog "Another Nickel in the Machine." Eventually using his blog as the source, he made two books. "Beautiful Idiots and Brilliant Lunatics" and this one "High Buildings, Low Morals." Both are excellent as well as his blog, and in my studies, the two best books on contemporary (20th century) London culture. Baker is amazing that his identity disappears and what comes up is the subject matter of his interest: the linage between London theater, social life, film and stage stars, and gangsters. These two books remind me of Kenneth Anger's Hollywood Babylon," but the big difference is that Baker is a through historian in his approach to match the dots in that urban landscape. He has the genius to match individuals with a narrative that is much bigger than the figures because it's a web that holds the city together.

Here we get narratives about Noël Coward, Lord Boothby & Ronnie Kray, Tallulah Bankhead, Graham Greene, and obscure and entirely forgotten British stars like Billie Carleton, the Duchess of Argyll (an old porn scandal) and even Mussolini, among many others. Also reading this book, I get the full physical picture of London bombed during World War II, as well as the psychology of that cities population. It's an epic presentation and Baker has the genius to edit it in (or out) various stories that tell even a bigger picture. Historian on a brilliant level, I can't recommend his books too much. For anyone who is, of course, interested in London, but also how an urban city lives and moves - it's a fascinating series of tales, that is almost unbelievable, but yet, true.

For further reading, here is Rob Baker's website "Another Nickel in the Machine" http://www.nickelinthemachine.com

"High Buildings, Low Morals: Another Sideways Look At Twentieth-Century London" by Rob Baker (Amberley)

ISBN: 9781445666259

To quote Noël Coward, from the back cover of Rob Baker's book "I don't know what London's coming to - the higher the buildings, the lower the morals."  "High Buildings, Low Morals" is for me a classic book.   I first discovered Baker's obsession on 20th Century London through his blog "Another Nickel in the Machine."  Eventually using his blog as the source, he made two books. "Beautiful Idiots and Brilliant Lunatics" and this one "High Buildings, Low Morals."  Both are excellent as well as his blog, and in my studies, the two best books on contemporary (20th century) London culture.  Baker is amazing that his identity disappears and what comes up is the subject matter of his interest: the linage between London theater, social life, film and stage stars, and gangsters.   These two books remind me of Kenneth Anger's Hollywood Babylon," but the big difference is that Baker is a through historian in his approach to match the dots in that urban landscape.  He has the genius to match individuals with a narrative that is much bigger than the figures because it's a web that holds the city together. 

Here we get narratives about Noël Coward, Lord Boothby & Ronnie Kray, Tallulah Bankhead, Graham Greene, and obscure and entirely forgotten British stars like Billie Carleton, the Duchess of Argyll (an old porn scandal) and even Mussolini, among many others.  Also reading this book, I get the full physical picture of London bombed during World War II, as well as the psychology of that cities population.  It's an epic presentation and Baker has the genius to edit it in (or out) various stories that tell even a bigger picture.  Historian on a brilliant level, I can't recommend his books too much.  For anyone who is, of course, interested in London, but also how an urban city lives and moves - it's a fascinating series of tales, that is almost unbelievable, but yet, true. 

"Beautiful Idiots and Brilliant lunatics" by Rob Baker

ISBN: 978-1-4456-5119-4 Amberley Books

"Beautiful Idiots and Brilliant Lunatics: A Sideway Look at Twentieth-Century London" by Rob Baker

For me, a city is something of brilliance.  I never cared for nature or the world outside of a city.  What I love is neon lights, people walking from there to here, cars, public transportation, and various cafes and restaurants.   Each city has a definite identity.  My favorite cities are Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo, and the subject matter of this book "Beautiful Idiots and Brilliant Lunatics," London.  It is odd when I walk around London, I'm consistently looking for something from the past.   My main interest is London in the 19th and 20th century - and I have a pretty good collection of books on that subject.  My favorite, I think is this book.  It captures the mystery, the eccentricity, and life flowing through its streets.

The book covers everything from Mary Quant to woman nazis to Christine Keeler to underground gay culture.  Rob Baker has the eye of a historian, but the heart of a poet - and he takes the reader down various pathways to a world that is very much London, but also going against the grain as well.  

This superb book is based on Baker's incredible website "Another Nickel in the Machine."  I discovered this site by accident, and like any good accident, it led me to other worlds that are within London.   His amazing collection of photographs is reason enough to visit the site, but now he made a book, and it is equally great.

For those who love London, this book is a must, but even those who never been to that part of the world, yet find the urban world of great interest, will need to own and read "Beautiful Idiots."  

- Tosh Berman