Sweet Saturday Night

by Colin MacInnes

1967. First Edition. 160 pages. Illustrated dust jacket over grey cloth boards. Gilt lettering. Clean pages with light tanning and mild foxing throughout. More pronounced to free endpapers and pastedowns. Pencil markings to front free endpaper. Top textblock edge dyed red. Binding remains firm. Boards have mild edge-wear with slight rubbing to surfaces and bumping to corners. Gilt lettering is bright and clear. Minor wear marks to boards. Unclipped jacket. Panels and spine have light edgewear with tears and creases. Minor tape repairs to interior spine. Visible wear marks to spine and panels.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

MacInnes was born in London, the son of singer James Campbell MacInnes and novelist Angela Thirkell, and was educated in Australia. He served in the British intelligence corps during World War II.

He was the author of a number of books depicting London youth and black immigrant culture during the 1950s, in particular City of Spades (1957), Absolute Beginners (1959) and Mr. Love and Justice (1960).

Reviews

[Slagle Rock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for its reference value, pointing me to some artists, titles and indeed some clarified understadning of the musical genre known as Dance Hall. Overall, though, I wasn't much thrilled by the narrative, it never got to much in the way of juicy facts or serious insights into the period in which the music thrived. The book is almost 60 years old and the author was writing then of a musical era that had ended some 50 years earlier, so that should be taken into account by modern readers.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1967, this is an overview of the days of the British Music Hall from the late 19th century until about 1930. It's quite conversational, almost charming, especially when it goes on tangents about the period lifestyle. What really made this work for me- I made note of some key songs and performers referenced in the book and then streamed the songs on Rdio. Spotify would work just as well.