Hi Jon. Yes, it certainly feels as though something is coming to an end or running out of steam in the UK at present, so there is a kind of parallel with the running out of steam of the poswar consensus in the late 70s. But at that time, as you say, there was a very strong sense of Thatcher being there with a radical alternative to offer, however problematic we might consider that alternative to have been. This time, however, there's nothing. I don't detect any real enthusiasm for consititutional change amongst the broader population. As for David Peace, judging by the TV adptations at least, this was surely little more than pastiche - the 70s = Ford Cortinas, flares, dodgy haircuts, and political corruption - mediated through contemporary ideological concerns, which were totally naturalised/unquestioned. The 'terrible truth' at the core of events being, you guessed it, a paedophile ring. Personally, I thought the TV adptations were dross and didn't say anything to me about or chime in any real sense with my memories of the 70s in Britain.
Jeremy | 18 Jun, 2009 - 7:29 am | #

I think that's the most ringing rebuke of David Peace I've seen. I've not seen the TV series, and I'm not sure how much I buy it for the books, but I take your point.
Jon | Homepage | 26 Jun, 2009 - 4:55 pm | #