My favourite read/listen of 2022

This really was a great listen. I learnt so much and asked equally as many questions. I brought in print, once finished, to read again.

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An impossible task

On starting this book I thought that there would be some kind of thesis, or some temporal or thematic limit on the books, films, theatre, music and art that would allow Mr Sandbrook to make his point, or cover his allotted subject material. There was neither. So, as enjoyable a canter through 19th, 20th and 21st century British art, music, literature, film, TV and theatre as this was, any listener is bound to be disappointed that their favourites were glossed over or missed out. In my case, I thought the glancing references to C.S. Lewis, Philip Pullman, Douglas Adams, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and the entire punk era were omissions. But the truth is, trying to encapsulate all of British art over 200 years or more was an impossible task that was only ever going to be one person’s view of a vast landscape. Thesis, there was none! But the reader, with his exceptional grasp of accents, was quite excellent.

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1 person found this helpful

Interesting book

Well narrated, held interest until the end .Learned some interesting facts about people who have shaped British culture

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"Dem Bones, Dem Bones, Dem Dry Bones"

Everything in culture is connected; "Toe bone connected to the foot bone" etc...

As I was born in 1956, the cultural phenomena discussed within this audiobook resonates very strongly. It was most pleasurable to stroll thorough my own and Britain's recent cultural roots. Brilliantly narrated by David Thorpe, who renders remarkable impersonations of the myriad characters quoted, from Lennon & McCartney (of course) to Thatcher, Kinnock and my fave impersonation, a wonderful Brian Walden.

From the "angry young men" of the 50s to Billy Elliot, by way of James Bond and Flashman, doubling-back to HG Wells and Tolkien then fast-forwarding to The Buddha of Suburbia and JK Rowling, each section is a delight. I'm no huge Damian Hirst fan but found even that chapter entertaining and enlightening. The changing music scene is ever-present in the background and groundbreaking TV series such as The Prisoner also get extensive coverage, (hence my review title...).

I've put all the other Dominic Sandbrook Audible titles in my library (also read by Thorpe) and can't wait to get rattlin' Dem Bones....

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14 people found this helpful

An engaging overview of Britain's popular culture

To put it simply, no country on earth, relative to its size, has contributed more to the modern imagination. There is, however, one area in which we can claim superpower status: our popular culture.

Britain has been in gradual decline since 1945. With the Empire gone along with our manufacturing base, we have compensated by engaging the energy and ingenuity that made the Victorians great to the creative arts. This is a book about the considerable success and the possible meaning of Britain's modern popular culture. From Bond and the Beatles to heavy metal and Coronation Street. From the Angry Young Men to Harry Potter, from Damien Hirst to The X Factor. We've exported them lucratively around the world.

Sandbrook has a knack of restating hardly original ideas in a way that strikes you as if you’d never heard them before. Heartily recommended.

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1 person found this helpful

Absorbing in parts, so so in others.

After hearing his books revolving around politics in the 1970's, I was really looking forward to this. However, although it was ok, it didn't match the enjoyment and interest of the other two. Fewer laughs too I felt. Perhaps concentrating greatly on a small number of authors, musicians, etc in each chapter, some of which I weren't really familiar with and didn't enjoy if I did, was what made it harder work to complete. Superbly narrated even though the content didn't allow the range of impressions but he's so good at, to be displayed.

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3 people found this helpful

very nice

Not as thrilling and in depth as Sandbrook history books, but a n interesting listen nonetheless

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1 person found this helpful

Superb overview of British pop culture

Excellent run through of British pop culture, mostly focusing on the sixties and seventies. Each chapter explains the context behind every cultural phenomenon, from the popularity of Catherine Cookson to the rise of Elton John. My only quibble is that the character assassination of John Lennon is a bit over the top and glosses over the quality of Lennon's songwriting - though it's still interesting simply for being a fresh take on such a familiar figure.

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Very enjoyable.

I needed a break from serial novels and autobiographies and this quite long slice of mostly modern history seemed a good choice. Once I started listening, I was hooked. The writing was exactly what I'd expect from Dominic Sandbrook and the main reason I felt in good hands with a 23 hour book to digest. However, the narrator David Thorpe is perfect for this type of book, in that you feel like you're on a long car journey with the perfect travelling companion who is chatting to you rather than reading to you. Must look up the next book in the series!

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The mask slips

I've loved his other books, this was ok but Sandbrook reveals himself as a bit of a stuffy Tory- his grasp of art sadly fails to match his grasp of history and some of his reactionary views - which he takes no trouble to hide- are embarrassingly narrow minded - JK Rowking and John Lennon fans you have been warned

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1 person found this helpful