My Alfie Collection

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Finding a battered Panther edition of this classic story that typifies London of a certain period whilst wandering around London "on business" seemed like fate, I can't say it helped me to appreciate the novel or the city more or less than if I'd read it at any other time but it was an enjoyable time nonetheless.

Alfie is selfish, a player, and just completely clueless when it comes to life and women. He’s so clueless in his own little world of justifications for the way he treats women and explanations for the way women think that he truly believes he has all the answers to life and love (or how to steer clear of it, at least). He refers to women as objects, often times calling them “it”, bird, or bint. These women, and there are plenty, all serve one purpose, and that is to provide pleasure for Alfie. He sees them as nothing more and is so ready to discard them when he has no more use for them or when things get a bit complicated. And yet, I couldn’t help but like Alfie, with all his cluelessness. Words and pictures merge seamlessly in these simply devised books. Shirley Hughes, now 78, wrote and illustrated her first Alfie book in 1981. Twenty years on, Alfie and Annie Rose are still respectively four and one-and-a-half years old but show no sign at all of dating. Rearing? He means raring. Alfie is not well educated, it must be said. He’s a bit of a barrow boy.)

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What's great about this highly entertaining and yet dark novel is that the author passes no judgment on Alfie and people like him. Instead, Alfie's voice reveals all - he justifies his indiscretions by claiming he's actually doing the women a favor, and his rationalizations show just how much of a narcissist he is. Bill Naughton wrote the screenplay, based on his theatre play some time before. In the same year as the movie’s release, he published the novel. It is very faithful to the film’s narrative, or vice versa, but as a novel and even with the film’s regular breaking of the fourth wall, the book delves slightly deeper into Alfie’s thoughts and musings. Shorter scenes are given length and detail. Idiosyncratic turn of phrases are added which are really quite funny - I don’t think these all appear in the film - and the ending is different but not too much. As a teacher & librarian, I see ways in which this book can be a springboard for conversations about perspective and understanding how others feel. Nia didn't perceive that Alfie appreciated her company, but when we read Alfie's part of the book, we see Nia's actions through his eyes. If you ever wanted to know what goes on the mind of a man who treats women badly, just read this. Though it was written in the 1960s, it is still timely for understanding men like Harvey Weinstein. Alfie's Feet - Alfie is taken to the shop to buy Welly Boots, He puts them on himself, but on the wrong feet.

It’s Alfie. Is there anymore to say? I’ve seen the movie a hundred times, the one which made Caine after the role was turned down by more eminent actors due to its controversial protagonist’s promiscuity not because he is a despicable misogynistic self-centred rake. Though there are Alfies about still, this is of its time; you wouldn’t get away with it now - the watered down Jude Law remake proves it. I’m always prepared to make an adjustment. If I’m having it off with a short bandy-legged bint I keep telling myself how marvellous bow legs are and asking myself why I don’t go in for them more. Same with great big fat birds. Whoever I’m with at the time is my favourite type, if you see what I mean. That’s what we’re here for, to make one another happy.Alfie Gives a Hand - Alfie gets invited to a birthday party, where the birthday boy is naughty and Alfie comforts a crying girl.