The 1950s are often seen as the "grey decade", a period marked - and marred - by post-war rationing, glum conformity, deference, even defeatism. Up to a point, perhaps, but it was it really all like this? The 1950s John Lucas recalls was also lit by jazz, skiffle, political protest, Teds, CND, Angry Young Men, by new movements in art and poetry, and by widening access to higher eduction from which he and many, though not nearly enough, of his generation profited. The 1950s which emerges from Next Year Will Be Better is altogether different from the 1950s or received opinion. There was work at holiday camps and alongside brickies, chippies, roof tilers; there were the joys of Soho and Eel Pie Island; seeing the Berliner Ensemble; hearing Louis Armstrong; meeting and being kissed by Allen Ginsberg...