Introduction

Introduction

Are the Wonders of this Brief Life, formerly The Boy from the Tail End of the Goldhawk Road is, unlike my previous work, very much not a 'best of' my writings. In fact, it's little more than a 'rest of', or collection of leftovers or secondary pieces collated in 2012-13, beginning with the already much documented memoir, Rescue of a Rock and Roll Child, which was written, approximately, between early 2006 and late 2008. But which has been subject to considerable revision since, such as for inclusion in this collection. While The Spawn of the Swinging Sixties is an abbreviated earlier version of the Rescue, which like the Rescue was recently part of a collection called At the Tail End of the Goldhawk Road, albeit in its entirety. Yet much of Sketches has been lifted untouched from the original, with its original feel preserved, despite having recently been subject to modification, and a process of reduction. The modification in question having included the addition of supplementary sections culled from other writings of mine, including earlier versions of the memoir. As well as the alteration of names of people (excepting certain family members and, unless their privacy is affected, those I consider to be public figures, one of which has been afforded two names, his own and a pseudonym), and certain places or institutions. Although the spirit and look of the original work have been preserved by omitting references to these. As in the cases of all my autobiographical writings, I've aspired to the absolute truth in the composition of both Rescue and Spawn; and thence, I receive facts not proceeding from myself in trust. Although needless to say, I can't avouch for their 100% accuracy. Which may - or may not - bring us to the question: Is Brief Life my final work? Almost certainly not, because there are enough pieces of writing remaining for a third compilation. Although my future as a writer does, it has to be said, look very uncertain indeed. Edited 3/12/17.