How did the cultural shifts of the 1960s transform the relationship between high art and popular expression? George Melly, a prominent British critic and jazz musician, examines the commercialization and subsequent assimilation of counter-cultural movements into the mainstream. He argues that the 'pop' explosion was not merely an aesthetic change but a fundamental alteration in the social fabric of post-war Britain, driven by the convergence of fashion, music, and media.

Critics often cite this work as a primary document for understanding the intellectual climate of the 1960s British cultural scene. Readers frequently note the observational depth of Melly's prose, which captures the era's specific tensions between authenticity and commercial success.