Pim, Keiron (Litvinoff, David)

Jumpin' Jack Flash: David Litvinoff and the Rock 'N' Roll Underworld

London, England: Jonathan Cape, 2016. First UK Edition. Softcover. “David Litvinoff (1928-75) was ‘one of the great mythic characters of ‘60s London’ — outrageous, possessed of a lightning wit and intellect, dangerous to know, always lurking in the shadows as the spotlight shone on his famous friends. Flitting between the worlds of music, art and crime, he exerted a hidden influence that helped create the Kray twins’ legend and Lucian Freud’s reputation as a man never to be crossed; connected the Rolling Stones with London’s dark side; redirected Eric Clapton’s musical career; and shaped the plot of the classic film ‘Performance’ by revealing his knowledge of the city’s underworld, a decision that put his life in danger. Litvinoff’s determination to live without trace means that his life has always eluded biographers, until now. This extraordinary feat of research entailed 100 interviews over five years. The result is by turns wickedly funny, appalling, revelatory and moving….one of British pop culture’s last great untold stories” (Abridged Quotation from Back Cover). As the glittering back cover blurb of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash: David Litvinoff and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Underworld” intriguingly relates, it isn’t often where a story so magnitudinous & impactful (to/on the lives and careers of so many) ‘falls through the cracks,’ as it were. The reasons for such a fate are always complex, multifarious, and operate from several angles. In the case of a life like Litvinoff’s, the relative historical invisibility is as intentional as it is unintentional; for the man’s close proximity to the London underground (the same proximity that endeared him to so many famous faces-&-places) quite nearly demanded he keep a low profile. Why? the reader of this here curation will doubtlessly ask. Well, typically in a curation such as this, I’d divulge a key anecdote or two, thus illustrating the work’s eminent readability. However, when it comes to Keiron Pim’s incredibly well-researched book, I feel to do so would actually disservice the reader; it would “fumble” the nuggets the work hands over—depriving them of the context required to actually apprehend their relevance & poignancy. Your Devoted Curators here at Third Mind Books not only recommend this book for readers who seek out this sort of thing, but ESPECIALLY recommend it as a gift for that person in your life who does. Do you know anyone who you need to buy a gift for that “loves the music and history of the 1960s” and “seems to have read everything?” Well, this is a work such an individual is almost guaranteed not to have—a story they’re almost guaranteed not to know, especially if operating from an American perspective/a member of the American audience for such things. When it comes to UK readers, the chances of success in this regard are slimmer, although not by much. At any rate, Pim’s work was nominated for (and won) a number of awards, and after reading “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” it’s not hard to see why. Softcover Original: First UK Edition, as obliquely noted on copyright page: First Printing, as indicated by number sequence thereon. In strong near fine condition with only minor-to-moderate shelf-wear, bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back cover & spine-edge; light, scattered spotting to text block near topmost fine-edge; minor-to-moderate rubbing throughout; a select few exhibits of light bumping & tiny scuffing to same front, back covers, else pristine. Near Fine. [Item #5501]

Price: $20.00