The Lonely Londoners (Penguin Modern Classics)

I brought this book as part of my degree course in English literature but I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. To begin with it takes a little while to get the hang of the patois of the book, but it is worth persevering as it gets easier the more you read. It is the story of a black man arriving in London for the first time and the friends and acquaintances he meets. It is both a very funny and thought provoking story, that follows the fortunes and misfortunes of a group of West Indian immigrants trying to survive in a completely alien environment, it gives you a unique insight into the lives that the men lived in their home country and how they adapt these to their new home. If you enjoy this as much as I did you will probably find yourself also reading The Housing Lark as well as Moses Ascending.

Believable story with endearing characters. An insight into a different time and community

I raced through this book in one sitting, finding it a well written and fascinating read. Written in 1956 and based in London, it provides the reader with a thought-provoking look into an immigrant's world. I found myself becoming more open-minded with each page, because it is exceedingly honest and incredibly heartfelt. I also like the structure of the narrative. it is multi-stranded, non-linear and doesn't have a single chapter. This does not hinder the text; instead it serves as a stream of conscious, making it more authentic. As well as this it is written in broken English, again adding to the authenticity and adding an almost poetic rhythm to the text. A brilliant read.

The book captures the feel of mainly West Indian immigrants leaving their homes and coming to London for a new life in the 1950’s. ‘The Empire’ of course had made its mark on the ’WI’ but that was now on the wane. A lot of the islands at this point were much run down, poor and directionless. This offered a way out of poverty. This read centres on the main storyteller – Moses; he introduces us to several of his friends and acquaintances. They have also travelled over and he has got to know them quite well over the years. He reminisces and recalls their times together, their characters and their stories at their weekly pow wows . They are a very mixed bag but include: at worst, a jealous woman beater, a serial womaniser & various hustlers and drifters, some do well for themselves, others not quite so well. All are rather laid back and blasé about their life style and they fit typically into how the ‘black Caribbean’s were perceived at that time and perhaps sometime since? Firstly I have to say that absolutely nothing happens of a dramatic fashion in this read. Much of it is very mundane and definitely nothing that you wouldn’t have read, or heard of, or come across before! Men chasing women, men going to dances – to get off with women, male camaraderie, West Indians liking their woman music & dope, their extremely laid back and a friendly nature! It’s quite witty in places but goes where it feels like as it has no plot or storyline. It’s a bit of a ramble really. You just have to go with it. The fact that there are no chapters enhances the rather meandering direction of the book. It’s simply a nice pleasant read and mildly atmospheric as it’s written in a Calypso lingo and reminisces about those places in London that we’ve all been to or been through on the underground. To call this book a ‘modern classic’ is rather over-stating its importance IMHO.Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it. I felt that the conditions that they lived under and suffered here – cramped housing, work problems, prejudice and racial isolation were rather secondary to the tale - though the narrator’s finale looks rather dejectedly at their present lot and their lack of achievement and their unpromising future ? Where they right to come to England and are they really any happier?

Remarkable insite into the experiences of the Windrush generation. Highly recommend.

Personally I loved this book. I can see how it might not be for everyone, but if you think you'd enjoy a book that's quite diary-entry-like in how it describes different events in the characters' lives then I'd recommend. I did a comparative essay on this book and it's great if you want a quick read, but I will warn you that quite a few pages quite randomly in the middle-ish of the book have no punctuation whatsoever (for a while I thought it might be a printing error) which was a little hard to read lol.

The Lonely Londoners opens with old London hand Moses hopping on a bus in the fog from ‘The Water’ – Bayswater – down to Waterloo to meet a new arrival. Moses has been in London so long that he acts as a kind of ‘liaison officer’ for any friend of a friend making the trip from Trinidad after him. Waiting for the train allows him to reflect on homesickness and how he must have a ‘soft heart’ to be out on a cold night waiting for a stranger. Sir Galahad is the man who eventually appears, in light summer clothes and without baggage, both facts that strike world-weary Moses with horror and amusement. Also in the station is Tolroy, a friend of Moses, expecting to meet one family member but getting more than he bargained for. The language is vibrant and like having Moses talk to you over a pint or three. ‘Vex’ has long since crossed over into London slang, ‘fellar,’ is universal, but although I did not know ‘test,’ the cadences of the voices soon take over. The title comes from musing on the loneliness of London after where they have come from. I could not escape the feeling that it must have seemed so grey. The dark London clouds being almost an inch above your nose in winter is one of the reasons why I had to leave the city, and I feel for anyone more used to wide Caribbean blue skies having to struggle through the smog.

Like: narration was reflective, taking the reader into 1950s in London. Mixture of comradeship, loneliness, basic human needs, survival, comedy. Very diverse characters. Dislike: derogatory reference of woman , although that was the experience and perception of women of that era. Would recommend to everyone to read from young adults (studied this in school 40 yrs ago).

lonely Londoner IS Great book,funny too and the plight of immigrant from British colonies to the new world

Very interesting read. Although set in late 50s - the book is in no way old. The human condition, life as an immigrant, feelings to be a stranger, to be unwanted - all this must be quite the same, still today. It needs a bit of time to get used to the language and mostly absent punctuation . . . but the trick is, the effort provides the reader with a looking glas and you become aware of a life most likely not yours.

Hermoso libro, me encanta estas ediciones de Penguin Classics, por sus encuadernación, papel, tamaño de letra. Altamente recomendable

A beautiful novel with a lota references to quote

This was the first novel of its genre that I've read, and fell in love with it. I've always been drawn to immigrant stories, and this was for me the best one I've read so far. Quick, easy to sympathise with all characters, loved everything about it. Give it a try!