Metroland (novel)

Metroland
1st edition cover
Author(s)	Julian Barnes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre(s)	Bildungsroman novel
Publisher	Jonathan Cape
Publication date	1980
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	176 pp
ISBN	0224017624
OCLC Number	27013621
Dewey Decimal	823/.914 20
LC Classification	PR6052.A6657 M47 1980

Metroland is an English novel written by Julian Barnes and published in 1980. It is a first person account of Christopher Lloyd and his experiences growing up in the suburbs of London (so-called Metroland), his brief life in Paris as a graduate student and the early years of his subsequent marriage. As adolescents Christopher and his childhood friend Toni had shown contempt for the bourgeois establishment but this lifestyle is one that Christopher ultimately chooses, much to Toni's disappointment, obtaining a secure job in publishing, marrying, buying a house and having a child. Christopher's realises that his normal life and somewhat mundane marriage are not perfect, nor are they necessarily more exciting than his time in Paris with his bold French girlfriend Annick, but he does love his wife and is content.

Film adaptation

Main article: Metroland (1997 film)

In 1997 Metroland was made into a film starring Christian Bale and Emily Watson. The executive producer Andrew Bandall and director Philip Saville were needing three songs from the punk era to be included in the live band scenes played by a fictitious group called The Subverts. Danny de Matos and Del Bartle were asked to write the songs to be included in the film. These three particular songs that featured in the film (although not in the Polygram souundtrack) "Amerikkka We Hate You", "Destroy the Hoi Polloi" and "You Destiny" were also produced by Danny de Matos.