Beatniks: An English Road Movie (1997) is a novel by British author Toby Litt set in Bedford in The United Kingdom in 1995, and concerns the adventures of a group of young people who admire the Beat Writers and Musicians of the 1950s and 1960s America. Initially published by Secker & Warburg in 1997. Plot summary Mary (a recent graduate from University) meets Jack, Maggie and Neal at a party and learns that despite it being The UK of 1995, they yearn for the life of a Beatnik in 1960s America. Fascinated by the group (especially the handsome, if difficult Jack) she embarks on an adventure with them, finding both love and tragedy on the way. Characters Mary, a young headstrong woman, who has recently graduated from University and lives with her parents (the novel is told in first person, from her view point). Jack, an intense and handsome young man in his early twenties who idolises Jack Kerouac and Bob Dylan, so much so he refuses to entertain anything that existed after 1966. He is the most enigmatic of the characters, as despite being the lead male of the novel, we never learn where or who he lives with, or his real name (Jack is a pseudonym borrowed from his idol). Neal/Matthew, a gentle affectionate young man, who shares Jack's passion for The Beats. Like Jack he goes by a pseudonym (in his case Neal Cassady) he loves, but is intimidated by Jack. More is known about him, and we find out he lives with his parents (although his father is never introduced, his Mother and him are very close) and his cat Koko, who he is extremely attached to. Maggie, a slightly younger woman (estimated by Mary to be about eighteen years of age) who seems happy to go by the title of "Jack's Chick." She dislikes Mary intensely, and the pair never have any sort of friendly exchanges, but her appearance is described very explicitly; she is blonde, full figured, wears a lot of eyeliner, and generally carries off the retro "Beat" look very well. Although she seems rather acquiescent to the male characters in the book, she is openly hostile to Mary, because of Mary's attraction to Jack and her desire to infiltrate the group. Emily (Neal's mother) is on very close terms with her son and his friends. She shares some of their views and