Ginger You're Barmy
Encyclopedia
Ginger You're Barmy is a comic novel
by David Lodge
based on his experiences as a conscript
to two years National Service
in post-war Britain between August 1955 and August 1957.
The title comes from the rhyme:
Comic novel
A comic novel is a work of fiction in which the writer not only seeks to amuse the reader, but also to make the reader think about controversial issues, sometimes with subtlety and as part of a carefully woven narrative; sometimes, above all other considerations...
by David Lodge
David Lodge (author)
David John Lodge CBE, is an English author.In his novels, Lodge often satirises academia in general and the humanities in particular. He was brought up Catholic and has described himself as an "agnostic Catholic". Many of his characters are Catholic and their Catholicism is a major theme...
based on his experiences as a conscript
Conscription in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...
to two years National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in post-war Britain between August 1955 and August 1957.
The title comes from the rhyme:
Ginger, you're barmy,
You'll never join the Army,
You'll never be a scout,
With your shirt hanging out,
Ginger, you're barmy.