Roland Camberton, born Henry Cohen, was a British author whose work offered a distinct lens into Jewish life in London's Hackney during the 1930s. His writing is noted for its deep engagement with the social fabric and atmosphere of the era. Camberton possessed a keen ability to render the nuances of everyday existence and the inner lives of his characters. His contributions are valued for their authenticity and evocative portrayal of a specific time and place.
As well as the elegant squares of Bloomsbury, Ivan Ginsberg walks the decaying back-streets of Soho, haunting cafes and pubs in company with an array of bohemian characters. As he wanders, his hopes of literary success seem further away than ever. With no capital and no backing, will he ever manage to produce 'Scamp', the literary magazine which gives this book its title?
Roland Camberton's second novel, first published in 1951, is a coming of age portrayal of 'down Hackney', home of David Hirsch, who steadily leaves behind his Jewish upbringing in adolescence to explore the wider world of London. Typically there is a wide array of humorous characters in his portrayal of Hackney and the more cosmopolitan world Hirsch is drawn towards.