Paints a picture of 1960's Britain
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A Raging Calm by Stan Barstow is a great and interesting read. The novel journeys in the 1960's. For example, a Secretary used a typewriter to produce letters and memos. In today's world, every office is computerised. In the 60's, Britain was controlled by an autocratic Tories government. The government imposed a strong input in key decisions such as poll tax and NHS. The public were denied of any opinions and views shared. The 1960's paints a different picture from what society is compared today. In a modern society, we have a socialist government as in the case of the Labour party. It is interesting to gain a real flavour of the 60's culture.
The novel focuses on a few key characters. The characters featured include profilic councillor Simpkins and attractive secretary. One common aspect of their life shared, is the fact of being involved an affair with married partners. This inevitably affects not only their prestige, but society's perception. For a councillor to have an affair with a married woman presents a huge scandal and a real disgraced to society, but as long as discreetion exists, nobody will uncover the dark and damaging secret and everything will turn smoothly. But nerveless this affects family relations. The key themes to this novel are public affairs and politics. That is the general gist of the novel.
A Raging Calm is a great read and provides the reader an insight of 1960;s Britian in Yorkshire. If you are interested in gaining some flavour of 1960's culture, then read A Raging Calm.
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