Autobiographical Drop Out!
Published 1968, by Anthony Blond.
Dropping out commonly refers to a person who has left an educational institution without completing the course. This does not apply in the same way to Robin Farquharson who held several degrees. The title of his book more accurately refers to his dropping-out from the comfort of academic life into the uncertainty of London street-life.
The book begins with a quote from a poem by the author and critic Matthew Arnold:
We cannot kindle when we will
The fire which in the heart resides,
The spirit bloweth and is still,
In mystery our soul abides:
But tasks in hours of insight willed
Can be through hours of gloom fulfilled. – Matthew Arnold, Morality.
Essentially the book is an account of Robin Farquharson finding himself homeless and with little money and many debts to claim, both through circumstance and his own actions. In an experimental spirit he attempts to forsake money (several times and with varying success) as a kind of restrictive social evil. This leaves him with very little option but to sleep rough and stay with friends or acquaintances now and again. The book includes a chapter on the free help offered by Rhaune Laslett and the Notting Hill Neighbourhood Service.
Many people see the book as a slightly forced and therefore somewhat un-genuine attempt to slum it with the lower classes in that Robin is so often bailed out by either good fortune, the kindness of strangers or old friends. It is much easier to step into a life of destitution like a puddle and to briskly leave it if the water becomes too cold knowing that there is money behind you and lots of people who are prepared to help you, for a short while at least.
The book is similar in style and content to other works of psycho-geography written by the situationists. Many sections of the book simply list the areas of London Farquharson has walked through, including the names of streets and buildings he passes, interspersed with events and acquaintances he makes along the way.
It is the flux of Robin’s mental state and the variety of situations he encounters that make the book an interesting and vibrant account of London in the late-60s. He copies information on a notice board, and rates graffiti in a public toilet for spelling, grammar and general interest.
Read more about this topic: Robin Farquharson