Julian Maclaren-Ross’ Memoirs of the Forties, taken from the 2004 Black Spring Press edition of his Collected Memoirs, was a peerless time-tunnel trip to the Turkish baths and bohemian Soho. Thanks to Maclaren-Ross’ biographer Paul Willetts for bringing those tracts back to life and for the many other kindnesses with research he has shown me during the writing of this book. Similarly wonderful were Joan Wyndham’s war diaries Love Lessons and Love is Blue (Virago 1985, 1986, respectively). Thanks to Max Décharné for putting them my way, as well as many other helpful comments and suggestions, and for a mastermind’s knowledge of slang.
Maclaren-Ross’ works of fiction, together with those of Patrick Hamilton, Gerald Kersh, Simon Blumenthal, Alexander Baron, Norman Collins, James Curtis, Robert Westerby, Nigel Balchin and Graham Greene, were massive influences and I am grateful to publishers who have kept the least-known of these masters in print, especially John King and Martin Knight of London Books, Robert Hastings of Black Spring Press and Ross Bradshaw of Five Leaves Press, whose editions are presented with such loving care.
Once more, I owe a special debt of thanks to Ruth Bayer for her help on magical matters; and to Emma Murphy for her supernatural gift of the Duchess. The Sohemian Society’s Marc Glendening took me on a spooky tour of the Blackout Ripper’s haunts that will not be easily forgotten. For lessons in the correct use of London Yiddish, I dunk a beigel to Marc Fireman, and for military manners, I salute Sohemian RSM Dave Fogarty.
As well as all of the above, my thanks and love as always to my family: Phil and Brenda Unsworth, Yvette, William, Tommy and Sophie Rose Unsworth, Cathy Meekin, Danny Meekin, Eva Snee, Danny and Elaine Snee, Mick and Maureen Snee.
More champagne for my real friends: Ann Scanlon, Pete Woodhead, Joe McNally and Dierdre Rusling, Benedict Newbery, Richard and Sarah Newson, Raphael, Lucia and Leo Abraham, Predrag and Damjana Finci, Doreen Montgomery, Fenris Oswin, Dave Knight, Chris Simmons, Paul Murphy, Katja Klier, Meg Davis, Hel, Luke and Adam Cox, Kriss and Lynn Knights, Sal Pittman and Mark Stripling, Mark Pilkington, Syd Moore, Travis Elborough; The Cesarians: Justine Armatage, Charlie Finke, Suzi Owen, Budge McGraw, Bev Crome, Christine Lehlett and Ed Grimshaw; Debbie Voller, Duncan Bolt, Anna Pattenden, Abby Taylor, Margaret Nichols, Claudia Woodward, Lynn, Nick and James Taylor-Haslam, Tom Vague, Ross McFarlane and Phoebe Harkins, David Collard, Lydia Lunch, Jake Arnott, David Peace, Andrew Whitehead, Ken Worpole, Iain Sinclair, Chris Petit, Ronnie Hackston, Anna Whitwham, Julian Ibbotson, Mari Mansfield, Jay Clifton and Vanessa Lawrence, Roger K. Burton and all at the Horse Hospital, James Hollands and Dr Paddy, Billy Chainsaw, Ken and Rachel Hollings, Mike Jay and Louise Burton, Christopher Fowler, Neil and Wenche Perry, Sue Smith, Tony Stewart, Tommy Udo, Damon Wise, Paul Goodhead and the Anthony Newley Society, Greil Marcus, Elizabeth Wilson, Laura Wilson, Dave Collins, Jane Bradley, Michael Dillon and the Gerry’s time-tunnel.
Thanks again and triples all round for Anna-Marie Fitzgerald, Niamh Murray, Hannah Westland, Rebecca Gray and all at Serpent’s Tail/Profile; François Guerif, Benjamin Guerif, Karine Lalechere, Jeanne Guyon, Hind Boutaljante and all at Rivages.
And a Methuselah of his own for Michael Meekin, the King of Swing.
The best part of going back to the 1940s was the music, due to the genius of the Andrews Sisters, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Irving Berlin, Al Bowlly, Bing Crosby, the Cats and the Fiddle, Nat “King” Cole Trio, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry “The Hipster” Gibson, Benny Goodman, Stéphane Grappelli, Henry Hall, Billie Holiday, Leslie “Jiver” Hutchinson, Ken “Snakehips” Johnson, Louis Jordan, Peggy Lee, Glenn Miller, the Mills Brothers, Louis Prima, Django Reinhardt and Fats Waller. Special thanks also to Jerry, Jan and Jocelyn at the Pink Shop for the Black British Jive compilation and for telling me the tragic true story of Snakehips Johnson, which I couldn’t help but weave a little of into this tale.
The films It Always Rains on Sunday (Robert Hamer, 1947), They Made Me a Fugitive (Alberto Cavalcanti, 1947) and Waterloo Bridge (Mervyn LeRoy, 1940) helped evoke a lost London. Karen Livesey’s 2006 documentary The Ladies Bridge offered an intriguing glimpse into the history of the construction of Waterloo Bridge and the story of The Ladies Bridge.
Finally, to the memory of Charlotte Greig, Dave Jennings and Ronnie Rocka, who left too soon but will not be forgotten.
ALSO BY CATHI UNSWORTH
Weirdo
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The Singer
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Bad Penny Blues
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The Not Knowing
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Without the Moon Page 30
