Just Kids

Just Kids by Patti Smith is a tender and beautifully written memoir that captures the essence of a time, place, and a unique bond formed between two young artists in the pulsating heart of New York City. The narrative follows Smith’s intimate relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, beginning with their burgeoning romance and evolving into a profound, lifelong friendship. Set against the backdrop of the late 1960s and 70s, the memoir vividly describes their serendipitous meeting and subsequent journey together amidst New York's colourful artistic scene. The story carries readers through iconic locations such as Brooklyn, the Chelsea Hotel, Max’s Kansas City, and Scribner’s Bookstore. Along the way, the duo mingles with literary and artistic luminaries such as Harry Smith, Bobby Neuwirth, Allen Ginsberg, Sandy Daley, Sam Shepard, and William Burroughs. The memoir paints a vividly evocative picture of a politically and culturally charged era, where the worlds of art and music were in a constant state of flux and innovation. Within this vibrant atmosphere, Smith and Mapplethorpe nurtured each other’s talents and dreams, offering unwavering support and confidence through their artistic pursuits and personal hardships, often symbolised by their modest sustenance of couscous and lettuce soup. Just Kids transcends a simple recounting of events; it is a heartfelt ode to a deep and abiding love and friendship. The story begins with the spark of young romance and unfolds into an elegy for the lost, capturing the essence of their dreams, struggles, and triumphs. Smith's eloquent prose lays bare the raw and poignant journey of two kids, scrappy and passionate, driven by an unyielding commitment to art and each other. This memoir is not just a personal chronicle but also an unforgettable portrait of New York with its rich and poor, hustlers and visionaries. It offers a spellbinding glimpse into a bygone era, immortalising the people and places that defined it. Patti Smith's Just Kids stands as a masterpiece that resonates with poignancy and grace, a must-read for anyone captivated by the transformative power of friendship and art. Winner of the 2010 Non-Fiction National Book Award Patti Smith's definitive memoir is an evocative, honest, and moving coming-of-age story of her extraordinary relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe. ‘Sharp, elegiac and finely crafted’ Sunday Times ‘Terrifically evocative ... The most spellbinding and diverting portrait of funky-but-chic New York in the late '60s and '70s that any alumnus has committed to print’ New York Times ‘Tender, harrowing, often hilarious’ Vogue