Skinhead – Allen Richard (2023)

Sixteen-year-old Joe Hawkins is the antihero of antiheroes. His life is ruled by clothing, beer, football, and above all, violence - violence against hippies, authorities, racial minorities, and everyone else who has unfortunately crossed his path. ***** Joe is a London skinhead - a member of a unique British subculture that emerged in the late sixties. While other skins were mainly driven by music, fashion, and working-class pride, Joe and his gang use their imposing street style as a badge of aggressive anger, even though Joe dreams of creating a better life. ***** Skinhead, which is harrowing in its depiction of violence and sex, often shocking even by today's standards, is also a provocative cross-section of British urban society. It does not spare hypocrisy, corruption, or excessive tolerance, which, according to the author, have allowed the rise of the extremist wing of skinhead culture. ***** The book Skinhead, first published in 1970 and becoming a massive cult bestseller, is now available in Czech for the first time. Even after nearly fifty years, it remains one of the strongest artifacts of British popular culture ever published.