Invariably clad in a sharp suit, augmented by dark glasses and a cigarette-holder, Julian Maclaren-Ross was a celebrated figure in mid-twentieth century Soho s pub and club scene. He was also one of his generation s most brilliant writers. Synonymous though he is with Soho, his uniquely strange life included spells in the army and on the French Riviera. So chaotic was his existence that he makes Jack Kerouac and Charles Bukowski appear models of stability and self-restraint. This is a vibrant and justly acclaimed portrait of Maclaren-Ross and his world.