When it comes to the words ‘Mod’ and ‘fiction’, one book stands out above all others – Absolute Beginners by Colin MacInnes.
Indeed, I would go as far as to say it is an essential read for anyone with an interest in Modernism or indeed, anyone interested in British youth culture. It’s the tale of a young Mod at the end of the 1950s, but it’s more than that – it says more about the Mod mindset than anything else committed to print.
Of course, it’s not the only piece of mod related fiction around, stories have been told to greater and lesser effect over the years. Indeed, the story for Saturday Night Fever was adapted from a short story based on a night out at the height of Mod in London!
But if you want some more recommendations, check out our Mod fiction section, in particular all of Alan Fletcher’s Mod Crop Trilogy novels, Tony Parsons’ Limelight Blues and Nick Coventon’s Move On Up. You’ll also do well to avoid The Mods by Sandra Lawrence and Mod Rule by Richard Allen, unless you want amusing rather than informing.
Absolute Beginners book at Amazon
