Penguin Decades 50's Penguin Decades 60's Penguin Decades 70's Penguin Decades 80's
Penguin Decades bring you the novels that helped shape modern Britain. When they were published, some were bestsellers, some were considered scandalous, and others were simply misunderstood. All represent their time and helped define their generation, while today each is considered a landmark work of storytelling.
Click here to buy the 50s Click here to buy all the Penguin Decades and get 20% off

The 1950s was the decade of post-war glamour, Barbie dolls, Pop Art and the Cold War. Britain celebrated the coronation of Elizabeth II and welcomed the Angry Young Men. The teenager was invented, rayguns were the toy of the moment, and Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley changed the face of modern culture forever.

Peter Blake was born in Dartford, Kent, in 1932. During the late 1950s he became one of the leading figures in the British Pop Art movement, using elements of popular culture and collage in his work, which includes the album cover for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. He was knighted in 2002.