'We are surrounded by the greatest of free shows. Places" Jonathan Meades has an obsessive preoccupation with places. He has spent thirty years constructing sixty films, two novels and hundreds of pieces of journalism that explore an extraordinary range of them, from natural landscapes to man-made buildings and 'the gaps between them', drawing attention to what he calls 'the rich oddness of what we take for granted'. This book collects 54 pieces and six film scripts that dissolve the barriers between high and low culture, good and bad taste, deep seriousness and black comedy. Meades delivers 'heavy entertainment' - strong opinions backed up by an astonishing depth of knowledge. To read Meades on places, buildings, politics, or cultural history is an exhilarating workout for the mind. He leaves you better informed, more alert, less gullible. "Everything is fantastical if you stare at it for long enough. Everything is interesting."
Museum Without Walls
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About the Author
Jonathan Meades is the author of two novels, 'Pompey' and 'The Fowler Family Business', and two collections of short stories, 'Filthy English' and 'Peter Knows What Dick Likes'. His highly acclaimed topographical and architectural series for the BBC include 'Abroad in Britain', 'Further Abroad' and 'Meades on France'. He lives in Marseille.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent polemic pieces about much of what is wrong with our urban/built environment, and by extension our society. Highly readable, although the film scripts are clearly not a substitute for watching the films themselves. There are few people writing with this level of intelligence and insight more's the shame. Any of you thinking you were in the frame for leadership of the Hate Blair and New Labour campaign had better move over and make room.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoy Jonathan's rather surreal critical deliveries on TV, and this book is a kind of textual version of the same. It does contain material that I've seen on Channel 4, but I found it an additional treat providing a slightly different view of the presenter himself. At least a passing interest in architecture would appear essential, but most readers will be familiar with at least some of the wide spectrum of places he discusses. If I can be excused for feebly attempting to mimic the style of the writer, then I would describe this book as an orgy of vocabularic excellence.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Enjaio
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Over the years I had enjoyed the TV programmes of Jonathan Meades so a chance to encounter him on the printed page was not to be missed. With this book of selected essays he does not disappoint. His distinctive tone of voice and phrase sounds yet again clearly in the mind's ear even if he does at times have me reaching for the dictionary. He forces one to see and think and to not accept that the built environment we have around us is necessarily the best in the best of all possible worlds. Nonetheless, he is equally adept at pointing out what is of merit. There is some repetition/overlap with some of the essays, for example the shacks between Bewdley and Bridgnorth. Anyone who celebrates the late Ian Nairn must have his heart in the right place.
If you have only previously encountered Jonathan Meades in his TV programmes and enjoyed them, then this book is well worth reading. If you have not enjoyed the TV programmes then I doubt that you will be converted to seeing the world around us with the help of a "Meades-eye" view.
The publishers 'Unbound' of this book are to be congratulated on bringing back to life funding by subscription.
If you have only previously encountered Jonathan Meades in his TV programmes and enjoyed them, then this book is well worth reading. If you have not enjoyed the TV programmes then I doubt that you will be converted to seeing the world around us with the help of a "Meades-eye" view.
The publishers 'Unbound' of this book are to be congratulated on bringing back to life funding by subscription.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
A little bit of a disappointment
Meades is to my mind one of the most interesting and individual social/cultural/architectural critics around and I always look forward to anything by him. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Nick's Notes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good and interesting reading...
If you want to read a book with criticism without politically correctness for architects, this may be interesting for you...
Published 6 months ago by JP
5.0 out of 5 stars
Too clever by half.
Rehashed musings on stuff - buildings, architectural follies, a bit on France, Portland in Dorset, sheds, the Baltic, Thames estuary and other Ballardian dystops. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Grumpyone
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