GUY MANKOWSKI

 On Tuesday 12th October at The Collection, Lincoln I am honoured to be talking about my book 'Albion’s Secret History: Snapshots of England's Pop Rebels and Outsiders' with iconic frontwoman Kate Jackson.  Focusing on figures who served to define England’s unofficial cultural history, this book was written to penetrate the surface of England’s pop history, including the venues it was shaped in, alongside art, film, architecture and politics, and throw some new light on the ideas of Englishness it reveals. Rhian E. Jones described the book as 'the most illuminating odyssey through overlooked English culture since Michael Bracewell's 'England Is Mine''. The second part of this event will be with Louder Than War's John Robb, who coined the term 'Britpop' and who was the first to interview Nirvana.  In addition on 14th October I'll be in conversation with award-winning Booker shortlisted author, journalist and political commentator Will Self

The next day you get to tell her that you ‘have to go, or you’ll be late meeting Morrissey.’ Her expression, as she sits up in the bed, shows that she remembers you claiming this would happen but that she never really entertained that the time would actually come. You would burn with pride but it all feels too ridiculous and surreal.  You don’t know what to make of the wild-eyed way she looks at you and bites her lip. So you check your hair looks okay and you just gather your wallet and take your card from the light slot and leave. But as you make your way to the Marble Arch pub, wrapping your navy blue coat around you, the collar flapping in the wind, you wonder if this is really happening. Are you simply going to walk to the end of the street and then, at some flaring wound of a rain-flecked concrete junction, find there is no Morrissey? Certainly not here?  But instead you dart over a pelican crossing, and walk down a weed strewn expanse of the cities ripped backsides. And looking a