Soft City - Softcover

Raban, Jonathan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 000654066X ISBN 13: 9780006540663

Publisher: HarperCollins Distribution Services, 1984

Synopsis

One of the classics of travel writing, this is a prescient exploration of the individual's relationship with urban living

About this title

Review

Jonathan Raban's 1997 novel Bad Land won both the National Book Critics Circle Award and the PEN Award for Creative Non-fiction. Soft City, a work dating back to 1974, contains much of the same award-winning style of narrative, wit and compassion for the subject.

Meticulously researched, Soft City is an insider's guide to the stresses and strains of city life. Flicking between many cities, but primarily London and New York, the reader is shown the true horror and, to an extent, joy of life in a modern metropolis. The reasons why people flock to cities, why some stay and why some leave are some of the many topics covered. Raban's observations are all too real. His sharp, poignant wit gracefully lightens his factual presentation. Raban's dialogue is truly a joy to read. Overheard conversations in restaurants and muffled voices heard through unsubstantial walls are penned in a lively, if not voyeuristic, form. This is a surprising page-turner from beginning to end, and a real classic in the literature of the city. It may be advisable not to live in or visit a conurbation without a copy. --Jon Smith

Review

'A brilliant book about how we all construct our own different versions of London'. -- Evening Standard

`the most important point about Soft City is that it is overwhelmingly right and true. . . . Soft City [is] as timely as ever' -- Evening Standard

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins Distribution Services
• Publication date: 1984
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 000654066X
• ISBN 13: 9780006540663
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256