Angry Young Men

The "angry young men" were a group of mostly working and middle class British playwrights and novelists who became prominent in the 1950s. The group's leading members included John Osborne and Kingsley Amis. The phrase was originally coined by the Royal Court Theatre's press officer to promote John Osborne's 1956 play Look Back in Anger. It is thought to be derived from the autobiography of Leslie Paul, founder of the Woodcraft Folk, whose Angry Young Man was published in 1951. Following the success of the Osborne play, the label was later applied by British media to describe young British writers who were characterised by a disillusionment with traditional English society. The term, always imprecise, began to have less meaning over the years as the writers to whom it was originally applied became more divergent, and many of them dismissed the label as useless.

Read more about Angry Young Men:  John Osborne, Definition and Divisions, Crosscurrents in The Late 1950s, Associated Writers, Other Media

Famous quotes containing the words young men, angry, young and/or men:

    There is grey in your hair.
    Young men no longer suddenly catch their breath
    When you are passing;
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    Because it was your prayer
    Recovered him upon the bed of death.
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    Down, wanton, down! Have you no shame
    That at the whisper of Love’s name,
    Or Beauty’s, presto! up you raise
    Your angry head and stand at gaze?
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    “Darling,
    will you come home today
    after a few hours,
    or at noon,
    or a little later,
    or when the whole day’s passed?”
    A young wife
    with tearful words stuck in her throat
    spoils the departure of her man
    who wishes to go to a land
    that takes a hundred days
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    Amaru (c. seventh century A.D.)

    By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
    Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
    It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
    Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
    But if it be a sin to covet honor
    I am the most offending soul alive.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)