Making Love

In a forgotten corner of the literary landscape, nestled between avocado green shag carpets and the unmistakable scent of old coffee, lies *Making Love* by the perpetually underappreciated Alan Bold. Published in 1978 by Pan Books—an establishment known for its daring forays into the murky waters of social consciousness—this tome promises not just a glimpse into the tumultuous world of human relationships, but also a good chuckle at the era’s earnest attempts to understand the unquantifiable chaos of affection.

If you’re searching for the manual on how to navigate the treacherous waters of courtship, you may wish to lower your expectations. This book arrives not as a how-to guide, but rather a series of vignettes that may leave you pondering the very nature of love and questioning your life choices. Bold’s prose waltzes between the absurd and the profound, often tripping over its own metaphorical shoelaces—much like the characters it depicts. Set against the backdrop of a time when bell-bottoms were as common as misguided relationship advice, this book is a delightful artifact of a past that perhaps should remain a bit more…past.

Within these pages, you may encounter a hodgepodge of charmingly flawed characters whose misadventures in romance are as relatable as they are cringe-worthy. Whether it’s a hapless poet trying to woo a woman with dubious taste in literature or an aspiring artist whose obsession with existential dread leads to disastrous dates, the stories ring with a kind of bittersweet irony. Readers can only marvel at how we, too, may have once believed that love could be deciphered like a crossword puzzle, only to discover it’s more akin to navigating a funhouse maze where the mirrors twist and distort the truth.

Expect to find observations on love that range from the astoundingly prescient to the endearingly outdated. In a world where social conventions have evolved faster than the speed of a 1970s disco beat, Bold’s commentary serves as a quirky time capsule filled with phrases and notions that may leave modern readers scratching their heads. You might find yourself pondering whether the world was truly more romantic back then or if nostalgia has simply obscured your vision.

Variety of poetry from across the years including:

• Archilochus
• Theocritus
• Lucretius
• Petronius
• Paul the Silentiary
• Geoffrey Chaucer
• John Skelton
• Robert Herrick
• John Drydon
• Roger McGough
• Wendy Perriam

Mainly really old poems with only 19 authors from this century. Probably 100 authors in total.

Bold’s knack for irony is on full display, inviting you to chuckle at the absurdity while simultaneously allowing for a moment’s reflection. It’s almost as if he writes with a wink, as if to say, "Don’t take this too seriously, love is just as confounding today as it was in my day." The title alone—*Making Love*—is a bold statement, yet one can’t help but wonder if it might just be an elaborate ruse for a deeper exploration of human connection, or perhaps just a cheeky nod to the era’s romantic ideals, influenced by the likes of The Beatles and their cohort of flower children.

As you venture into this world of questionable choices and earnest attempts at meaningful connection, you might also find yourself appreciating the book’s charming imperfections. The yellowing pages, the faint whiff of nostalgia, and the occasional margin note from previous readers, perhaps revealing their own secrets and heartbreaks, all lend an authenticity that today’s pristine, digital-first novels sorely lack.

Condition: Used. This literary relic is presented in a condition that could only be described as ’well-loved’. Expect its covers to bear the marks of time, perhaps a few creases and dog-eared pages that whisper stories of their own. The spine is slightly worn, suggesting it has traveled through many hands and hearts, each leaving a trace of their passage. Consider it a badge of honour—a testament to its enduring relevance in a landscape forever shifting beneath our feet.

So, whether you’re an avid collector of quirky literature or a reluctant participant in the endless circus of love, *Making Love* is a wonderfully ironic addition to your shelf of second-hand wisdom. Embrace the nostalgia and irony of this bygone era with a purchase from Crappy Old Books, where the past is always just a page away.

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