So I've just read The Severed Alliance

[Amy]

...and I'm thinking that perhaps I came to the book after being a fan for too long, because I'm left distinctly underwhelmed and with no 'new' insight into anything regarding Morrissey & Marr. With the exception of Morrissey's detailed Irish ancestry and interviews with a couple of his former schoolfriends, I'd heard practically everything in this book before - lengthy portions of which seem to have been culled from secondary sources anyway. A disappointing read, yet I've found the majority of Smiths obsessives think the opposite. Any thoughts?

[Worm]

...and I'm thinking that perhaps I came to the book after being a fan for too long, because I'm left distinctly underwhelmed and with no 'new' insight into anything regarding Morrissey & Marr. With the exception of Morrissey's detailed Irish ancestry and interviews with a couple of his former schoolfriends, I'd heard practically everything in this book before - lengthy portions of which seem to have been culled from secondary sources anyway. A disappointing read, yet I've found the majority of Smiths obsessives think the opposite. Any thoughts?

The Smiths obsessives who think the opposite probably read and enjoyed the book in 1992, when much of the information was new.

[I am a Ghost]

Turgid, verbose and difficult to wade through, even in 1992. Wheat from chaff and all of that.

[CrystalGeezer]

I read the first chapter once on the floor of a bookstore waiting for my mom to shop at the mall. I was intrigued by the ancestry part as well. The family stuff at the beginning. I flipped through the rest and drew a similar conclusion and decided to skip it.

[Worm]

Turgid, verbose and difficult to wade through, even in 1992. Wheat from chaff and all of that.

Rogan's writing left a lot to be desired, but considering the relatively scarce amount of biographical information available at the time, the book was a treasure trove. If I remember correctly only Mick Middles had produced a book about The Smiths before "The Severed Alliance" and aside from some nifty pictures it was rubbish.

[I am a Ghost]

Rogan's writing left a lot to be desired, but considering the relatively scarce amount of biographical information available at the time, the book was a treasure trove. If I remember correctly only Mick Middles had produced a book about The Smiths before "The Severed Alliance" and aside from some nifty pictures it was rubbish.

It was manna when it appeared originally, well-researched and detailed, with some great pictures, but so much extraneous stuff too. Chapter one is a potted history of this country in the twentieth century!

All that being said, I may just read it for the second time, having taken it down from the dusty bookshelves. Nineteen years ago is a long time, even for an ancient such as I.

[Amy]

The Smiths obsessives who think the opposite probably read and enjoyed the book in 1992, when much of the information was new.

True. It would probably have been new to me if I'd encountered the book earlier in my own 'fandom' too I guess, if I was just a casual fan (does such a thing even exist in relation to the Smiths?:lbf:)

[Stanley the 2nd]

I brought this when it first came out. It seems a long time ago now. Some interesting revelations back in the day but it probably seems a bit tame now.

The only thing which sticks in the mind are the young ladies who Morrissey allegedly invited to his house to listen to records. School friends assumed he was "plugging in". Quality writing from Mr Rodent.

[mozmal]

I bought it the day it came out and thought it was really detailed and well written. As Worm already states, this was the first real book on The Smiths, so at the time most of it was new. For me, being completely obsessed, it was a revelation and an essential read. Rogan did an awful lot of research and interviewed virtually everybody who was there at the time. I've not read it since, so it would be interesting to see how it stacks up against the other books that have since been released.

[Worm]

Thinking back on the various books written about Morrissey over the years, with specific reference to the quality of "The Severed Alliance", it's probably worth remembering that in Morrissey's case biography alone can't explain him or his art. Even if Rogan had been William Gibbon, writing with complete accuracy about every single fact of Morrissey's life, the resulting biography would still be insufficient. The best way to understand The Smiths is to read Goddard's book, which mainly deals with the details surrounding the recordings, study "Peepholism", and then take in one or two of the non-biographical critical studies, like Gavin Hopps'.

Or just listen to the music. But that never seems to please the obsessives entirely. :rolleyes:

[floodzonex]

Rogan's writing left a lot to be desired, but considering the relatively scarce amount of biographical information available at the time, the book was a treasure trove. If I remember correctly only Mick Middles had produced a book about The Smiths before "The Severed Alliance" and aside from some nifty pictures it was rubbish.

In a pre-internet age this was the most information available. Many people who disliked it then (and now) thought they should because Morrissey said to. Obviously idiotic.

[Bluebirds]

I bought this book when it originally came out and devoured the pages. As Worm has pointed out the only other (picture) book about The Smiths at the time was Mick Middle's slender tome*. (there was also the personal bible that was Morrissey in His Own Words, think it was Omnibus Press c 1989/90. Cracking read)

The Rogan book was the closest thing at the time to putting a tinhat on the story of The Smiths. And for those of us who had just missed the phenomenon of The Smiths it was essential reading. Judging from "younger viewers" though the book does not stand the test of time. A bit like some of Morrissey's early 90s output then!

*Mick Middles later wrote a biography about Mick Hucknall so this renders his opinions on The Smiths quite useless