Books and Writers articles
Book of Night Women by Marlon James Stylish historical novel of Jamaican slavery Marlon James was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1970. He graduated from the University of the West Indies in 1991 with a degree in literature. His first novel, John Crow’s Devil, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and was a finalist […]
New Novel Dirty South by Alex Wheatle It’s a generation on from Wheatle’s East of Acre Lane, and the soundtrack has changed from reggae to hip hop, but the career options open to young black males are still brutally limited. Set in Brixton, 20 years after the race riots, The Dirty South follows the adventures […]
Bottom Power by Dzifa Benson If you haven’t yet had a chance to catch Dzifa Benson’s red hot performance nights, read the poem, below for a taste. Bottom Power A backside Floating inside The darkside Of a history pickled in formaldehyde Not a Damien Hirst Or the slaking of knowledge thirst Of one eyed men […]
In January 2002 the athlete Dwain Chambers made a serious error of judgement when he succumbed to peer pressure and temptation and took a performance enhancing substance. The inevitable bust, when it happened, came almost as a relief. Nevertheless it would turn his life upside down. Chambers came clean, held up his hands and unburdened […]
Lest We Forget When I was a very little boy growing up in sixties London, both of my now dearly departed parents would regularly regale me with proverbs. Instructive proverbs like ‘One One Cocoa Full Basket’ ‘Make Sure You Recognize Trouble Before Trouble Recognizes You’ ‘Save Money, And Money Saves You.’ And the powerful and […]