The period following World War II profoundly reshaped Britain, influencing its literature and society in dramatic ways. This era, often characterized by discontent and a search for new identities, gave rise to influential literary movements and iconic works. Understanding Post-War British Literature and Society means delving into the historical context, key authors, and the powerful themes that emerged.
Understanding Post-War British Society: A New Landscape
Britain after WWII was a nation in transition. Despite being a winner, the country benefited from the Marshall Aid Programme. The Labour Party introduced the "welfare state," leading to a better standard of living for many through free medical care, free secondary education, and higher wages. However, this era also marked the end of the British Empire, a process that deeply affected national confidence.
The 1956 Suez Crisis, in particular, shook the nation, leading to widespread discontent, disillusionment, and a sense of confusion, coupled with nostalgia for past glories. The 1940 Education Act played a role in social mobility, enabling more people from lower classes to attend "redbrick universities" in the provinces, although established positions often remained out of reach.
The Rise of the Angry Young Men in British Literature
The 1950s were defined by an atmosphere of discontent that permeated British society, giving birth to the Angry Young Men. These were often young, low-class intellectuals, educated at provincial universities, who felt frustrated and confused. Their literary (anti-)heroes were typically self-centered, seeking acceptance into affluent society rather than pushing for thorough social change.
Key Figures and Works of the Angry Young Men
- John Osborne: His play Look Back in Anger (1956) was a commercial success, making him a central figure. Jimmy Porter, its protagonist, became a prototype of the post-war anti-hero: insecure, unstable, discontented, and outwardly aggressive. His protest was a private class war against what he identified as Establishment values, driven by his own exclusion rather than a desire to transform society.
- John Wain: His novel Hurry on Down (1953) captured the spirit of the movement.
- John Braine: Known for Room at the Top (1957).
- Alan Sillitoe: A notable representative, particularly with his working-class novels.
The message from their works often reflected the hopelessness, frustration, and disillusionment of the young British post-war generation.
The Movement: Anti-Romantic and Ironic Poetry
Coinciding with the Angry Young Men, "The Movement" emerged in poetry. The term originated from J.D. Scott's unsigned article "In the Movement," published in The Spectator on 1 October 1954. Robert Conquest's anthology New Lines (1956) showcased this group.
Poets Associated with The Movement
- Robert Conquest
- Kingsley Amis
- Donald Davie
- D.J. Enright
- Elizabeth Jennings
- Thom Gunn
- Philip Larkin
- John Wain
The Movement was characterized by its anti-romantic and ironic stance, emphasizing the revival of importance of form in poetry.
Notable Authors and Their Contributions
Beyond specific movements, several authors shaped Post-War British Literature and Society with their unique voices.
Philip Larkin (1922-85): The Poet of Everyday Life
Philip Larkin's reputation as a poet was solidified in the 1950s with The Less Deceived (1955). His later collections include The Whitsun Weddings (1964) and High Windows (1964). Larkin's style was ordinary, clear, and colloquial, marked by ironic understatement and a focus on commonplace experiences. He blended lyricism with discontent, reflecting detachment, plainness, and skepticism.
William Golding (1911-93): Exploring Moral Dilemmas
William Golding, a Nobel laureate, often explored profound moral dilemmas within human existence, placing characters in extreme situations. His seminal work, Lord of the Flies (1954), is a powerful example. Other notable works include The Spire (1964) and Rites of Passage (1980), the first book of his "To the Ends of the Earth" trilogy.
Alan Sillitoe (1928-2010): The Working-Class Novelist
Alan Sillitoe was a key figure in the working-class novel genre. His Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1958) portrays Arthur Seaton and his working-class environment, lifestyle, values, and language. The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (1959) is another significant work exploring similar themes.
Kingsley Amis (1922-95): Pioneer of the Campus Novel
Kingsley Amis, associated with both the Angry Young Men and The Movement, wrote influential comic novels. He is considered a founder of the campus novel. His Lucky Jim (1954) satirizes the high-brow academic environment of a provincial "redbrick" university through the eyes of its protagonist, Jim Dixon, an anti-hero of a romantic comedy. Other works include Take a Girl Like You (1960) and Jake’s Thing (1978).
Iris Murdoch (1919-99): Philosophy in Fiction
Iris Murdoch, known for her philosophical monographs, infused her novels with philosophical depth. Her first novel was Under the Net (1954), featuring Jake Donaghue. Other works include A Severed Head (1961) and The Sea, the Sea (1978).
The Multiethnic and Multicultural British Novel
The 1950s also marked the beginning of a multiethnic and multicultural England, leading to a "creolization" of the British novel. This development was crucial in reflecting the changing demographics of British society.
Samuel Selvon (1923-94): The Voice of the Windrush Generation
Born in Trinidad, Samuel Selvon moved to London in 1950 and pioneered the use of Caribbean Creole dialect in his works for more than just comic effect. His novel The Lonely Londoners (1956) follows characters of the "Windrush generation," with a Creole narrator named Moses. The novel blends Trinidadian dialect with standard English and is influenced by Trinidadian calypso music. An extract from The Lonely Londoners highlights the isolation felt by immigrants:
"Sometimes I look back at all the years I spend in Brit’n,“ Moses say, “and I surprise that so many years gone by. Looking at things in general life really hard for the boys in London. This is a lonely miserable city, if it was that we didn’t get together now and then to talk about things at home, we would suffer all about. In the beginning you would think that is a good thing, that nobody minding your business, but after a while you want to get in company, you want to go to somebody house and eat a meal, you want to go on excursion to the sea, you want to go to play football and cricket. Nobody in London does really accept you. They tolerate you, but you can’t go in their house and eat or sit down and talk...".
Selvon continued Moses's story in Moses Ascending (1975) and Moses Migrating (1983).
Other Significant Developments: Theatre of the Absurd and Fantasy
The 1950s also saw other literary trends.
- Theatre of the Absurd: This significant development in British drama emerged, challenging traditional theatrical conventions.
- Fantasy Literature: While some works were composed earlier, the 1950s saw the publication of major fantasy works like J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, establishing the genre's enduring popularity.
Postmodernism in Literature: A New Way of Seeing
The shift from the Modern to the Postmodern Era also began to influence literature, fundamentally altering how writers engaged with narratives, knowledge, and history.
Key Characteristics of Postmodernism
- Breakdown of Metanarratives: A move away from grand, overarching stories (like Marxism or singular philosophies) towards many smaller, subjective narratives.
- Nature of Knowledge: Knowledge became understood as subjective and uncertain.
- New Understanding of History: History was seen as written and created by the victors and powerful, often from a Eurocentric perspective.
- De-centering of the World: Emphasizing that the margins of the world, not just Europe or America, hold important places and perspectives.
Frequently Asked Questions About Post-War British Literature
What are the main characteristics of Post-War British Literature?
Post-War British Literature is characterized by themes of discontent, disillusionment, and social criticism, often seen through the lens of the Angry Young Men. It also includes anti-romantic poetry (The Movement), moral exploration, working-class narratives, the rise of the campus novel, and the beginning of multiethnic voices reflecting a changing society. The influence of postmodern thought also started to emerge, questioning grand narratives and subjective knowledge.
Who were the Angry Young Men and what did they protest?
The Angry Young Men were a group of British writers in the 1950s, primarily young, low-class intellectuals, who expressed frustration and disillusionment with the post-war social and political establishment. Their protagonists, like Jimmy Porter, were often self-centered, protesting against what they saw as outdated establishment values, usually because they felt excluded from the society of affluence and privilege, rather than advocating for widespread social revolution.
How did the Suez Crisis influence British society and literature?
The 1956 Suez Crisis was a pivotal moment that significantly shook Britain's national confidence. It led to widespread feelings of discontent, disillusionment, confusion, and nostalgia for the country's past imperial glory. In literature, this mood contributed to the atmosphere of protest and questioning found in works by authors like the Angry Young Men, reflecting a society grappling with its diminished global standing and internal anxieties.
What is the significance of the "creolization" of the British novel?
The "creolization" of the British novel refers to the process where the British novel began to incorporate multiethnic and multicultural elements, particularly from immigrant communities. This was significant because it brought new voices, perspectives, and linguistic forms, like the Caribbean Creole dialect pioneered by Samuel Selvon, into mainstream literature, reflecting the evolving, diverse demographic of Post-War British Literature and Society.
Which authors are considered part of The Movement in poetry?
Key authors associated with The Movement in poetry include Robert Conquest, Kingsley Amis, Donald Davie, D.J. Enright, Elizabeth Jennings, Thom Gunn, Philip Larkin, and John Wain. Their poetry was known for its anti-romantic and ironic tone, and a renewed focus on the importance of poetic form.