Albany Park: An Autobiography

Albany Park is a novel that follows the youthful years of Patrice Chaplin, from her grey wartime childhood to her adventures in Europe and her romantic infatuation with José Tarres in a sun-drenched Catalonian city. It is a tale of make-up, boys, jazz, Soho nightclubs, Hollywood dreams, and the shadows of espionage and possessiveness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 204 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2021
Publisher: Clairview Books

Albany Park is a captivating tale that delves into the youthful years of Patrice Chaplin, encompassing a spectrum of emotions from the grayness of wartime childhood to exhilarating and perilous adventures across Europe and a romantic infatuation that blossomed in the sun-kissed city of Catalonia. Patrice and Beryl, two teenagers in the 1950s, reside in the London suburb of Albany Park, where life is characterized by a vibrant mix of makeup, boys, traditional jazz, and the allure of Soho nightclubs. Their dreams soar to the heights of Hollywood, fueling their aspirations. Determined to escape the monotony of dead-end jobs, they embark on a hitchhiking journey across Spain, embracing the alternative street fashions of the era: white lipstick, dangling earrings, and drainpipe trousers. Their path leads them to the ancient city of Girona, where they encounter the charismatic poet, José Tarres. For Patrice, this encounter sparks a profound homecoming, marking the end of a friendship and the commencement of a lifelong obsession with José.

Patrice is captivated by José's charm, yet shadows linger on the sunlit days. A possessive mother, mysterious absences, rumors of women, and whispers of espionage cast a mysterious veil over their relationship. Despite their plans to elope, circumstances intervene, leaving Patrice alone in Paris. She takes on the role of a showgirl, facing arrest as a vagrant and enduring unwanted sexual advances. It is only years later, upon her return to Girona as a writer, that she unravels the truth about José, the first and true passion of her life.

Weight: 288g
Dimension: 138 x 216 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912992294