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After Many a Summer Dies a Swan is perhaps best remembered today for having been mentioned in Christopher Isherwood's A Single Man, but it's definitely worth re
by dhosek 5y ago
After Many a Summer Dies a Swan is perhaps best remembered today for having been mentioned in Christopher Isherwood's A Single Man, but it's definitely worth reading. The 1950s saw a number of British ex-pats in Los Angles writing novels about their experiences. Isherwood's novel is another classic of the genre although the best of the lot, in my opinion, is Evelyn Waugh's The Loved One (just skip the atrocious movie of the same title which was so bad, Waugh stipulated that Hollywood would never again get to film his work).
- asdff 5y agoThis time in Los Angeles's history from the 20s to the 70s or so is just absurd when you read about all the goings on at the time. Culturally the city was, and still is in many ways, remarkably supernatural. Psychics everywhere, theosophists colonizing the beachwood canyon hoping to form their own utopia, the rise of the self realization fellowship, many cults including Charles Manson's, the early rise of scientology in Pasadena which roped in everyone from movie stars to astrophysicists at JPL. It was all happening at the same time, and most of these groups were taking a lot of psychedelic drugs, often with very wealthy and influential benefactors such as actors or business leaders. And to this day these cults, supernatural groups, psychics, etc, are all still there operating. It is startling how common I come across people in this city who actively see a psychic, or deeply believe in astrology, or are lining up for some meeting at a scientology center, even today.
- gringoDan 5y agoYou might enjoy this blog post, which captures the spirit of LA better than anything else I've read: https://www.bldgblog.com/2007/10/greater-los-angeles/ https://www.bldgblog.com/2007/10/greater-los-angeles/