Made in Brighton by Julie Burchill
At the beginning of the 21st century, Britain seems to be experiencing a sudden reckless rush of liberalisation: 24 hour licensing, gay marriages, the upper classes derided and the celebrity class revered. How did we get here? Only 50 years ago we couldn't get enough of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainer; today our poster couple is Kate Moss and Pete Doherty. Made in Brighton takes a cold, hard look at the changing face of Britain, using Brighton as a focal point. Brighton has long been at the vanguard of English tastes - in its attitudes towards homosexuality, the rise of the chav and binge-drinking, as well as its music and drug cultures. Julie Burchill and Daniel Raven, who have lived in Brighton for many years, interweave their personal stories and experiences of Brighton with larger themes of sex, politics and class to explore the changes in British society over the last 20 years. Funny and bittersweet, part memoir and part analysis, Made in Brighton is for anyone with a curiosity and a love for Britain, for those who are aware of a cultural shift but can't put their finger on what's happening - and anyone looking for an excuse to be beside the seaside.