It was in prison where he discovered a pile of books, which he claims were to save his life. Wheatles writing is poetic, rhythmic and unique, remaking. At 16 he was a founder member of the crucial rocker sound system. He spent most of his childhood in a childrens home, which he left at fourteen to live in a hostel in brixton. Open book festival alex wheatle open book festival. A true story signed copy, by alex wheatle, mbe pea.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Alex wheatle will talk about his life experience and how it has influenced his writing. He spent a short stint in prison following the brixton uprising of 1981. At eighteen, he was involved in the brixton uprising and went to prison for three months. Anderson press signs wheatle s first historical ya.
Alex wheatle is the author of several acclaimed novels, many of them inspired by experiences from his childhood. In 208, he was awarded an mbe for services to literature and, in 2016, he won the guardians childrens fiction prize. Nov 18, 2016 wheatles political awakening came with the 1981 brixton riots, which he dramatised in his second novel, east of acre lane. Alex wheatle was born in 1963 to jamaican parents living in brixton and spent most of his childhood in a surrey childrens home. He was born in brixton to jamaican parents, and spent most of his childhood in a surrey childrens home.
Linton kwesi johnson alex wheatles brixton rock has initiated the debate on how it feels to be a mixed race briton. The 1981 brixton riot, or brixton uprising, 1 was a confrontation between the metropolitan police and protesters in lambeth, south london, england, between 10 and 11 april 1981. He wrote and performed uprising, a one man play based on his own life at tara arts studios, wandsworth, london. Alex alphonso wheatle mbe 3 january 1963 is a british novelist, sentenced to a term of imprisonment after the brixton riots.
Born on the 3rd of january, 1963, i spent most of my childhood in the notorious shirley oaks childrens home a few miles east of croydon. Without libraries i would have never become a writer. Buy a discounted paperback of uprising online from australias leading online bookstore. Feb 10, 2016 a conversation with alex wheatle born in 1963 to jamaican parents living in brixton, alex wheatle spent most of his childhood in a surrey childrens home. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Alex wheatle was born in 1963 to jamaican parents living in london. Andersen press is publish cane warriors by alex wheatle, a visceral historical novel about the reallife slave uprising against british plantation owners. Uprising is inspired by his first book, brixton rock 1999, which tells the story of. Brixton rock was adapted for the stage and performed at the young vic in 2010. Tara arts in association with arcadia books tour october to november 2011 marking the 30th anniversary of the brixton riots, touring for black history month.
Following a short stint in prison following the brixton uprising of 1981, he wrote poems and lyrics and became known as the brixtonbard. Libraries were crucial in my long journey as a writer. He wrote and performed uprising, a oneman play based on his own life at tara arts studios, wandsworth, london. A true story diffusion books by alex wheatle 19 jan 2017. Born in 1963 to jamaican parents, wheatle spent much of his childhood in a shirley oaks childrens home. That holds the three books together, as well as the imaginary scene. Island songs by alex wheatle nook book ebook barnes.
Discover book depositorys huge selection of alex wheatle books online. Alex wheatle is the author of the new young adult novel home girl. Wheatle spent much of his childhood in a surrey childrens home. At 18, he was involved in the brixton uprising and went to prison for 3 mo. Alex alphonso wheatle mbe 3 january 1963 is a british novelist, sentenced to a term of. Jul 28, 2015 wheatles debut novel, brixton rock, was adapted for the stage and performed at the young vic in july 2010. On his release, he continued to perform as a dj and mc under the name yardman irie, moving in the early \\90s on to the. If you want to be more specific, you can stick to london, where alex wheatle lives.
Im working on a slave revolt narrative based on a real uprising in jamaica. Alex alphonso wheatle mbe 3 january 1963 is an award winning black british novelist of jamaican heritage and has been described as one of the uks most exciting writers. Wheatles debut novel, brixton rock, was adapted for the stage and performed at the young vic in july 2010. The main riot on 11 april, dubbed bloody saturday by time magazine, 2 resulted in almost 280 injuries to police and 45 injuries to members of the public.
Uprising a thought provoking and inspiring story written for emerging readers, particularly those who are offenders or at risk. Wer braucht ein herz, wenn es gebrochen werden kann. He has written books for adults and teenagers, including the critically acclaimed brixton rock, liccle bit and crongton knights. Andersen press is publish cane warriors by alex wheatle, a visceral historical novel about the reallife slave uprising against british plantation owners in jamaica in 1760 known as tackys war. Alex wheatle wins 2016 guardian childrens fiction prize this article is more than 3 years old author who says his time in jail inspired his. Born in 1963 to jamaican parents living in brixton, alex wheatle spent most of his childhood in a surrey childrens home. He spent a short stint in prison following the brixton uprising in 1981. Alex wheatles brixton rock has initiated the debate on how it feels to be a mixed race briton. Alex wheatle is the author of several novels, some of them set in brixton, where he grew up. As a part of black history month newsround has been looking back to an important part of black british history, the 1981 brixton riots alex wheatle tells his story. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Alex wheatle wins 2016 guardian childrens fiction prize. Now 53, he made his debut in 1999 with the first of six adult novels.
Narrated in the authentic voice of 14yearold lamar, the novel weaves universal themes of family, friendship, loyalty, morality, and connection within the context of a distinctive time and place. The dirty south by alex wheatle books the guardian. When he was sent to prison for taking part in the brixton uprising, alexs future seemed hopeless. May 18, 2017 alex wheatle is one of the uks most popular black british authors. He returned to brixton in 1977 where he founded the crucial rocker sound system and performed his own songs and lyrics under the name of yardman irie. Alex wheatle alex wheatle, author of liccle bit and crongton knights, tells us about his long love affair with libraries and how they changed his life photo by walter white. He spent most of his childhood in a childrens home, which he left at 14 to live in a hostel in brixton.
Locals came together to mark the 35th anniversary of the 1981 brixton uprising at the black cultural archives bca this week. Novels set in the world of urban fiction are extremely thin on the ground these days. Alex wheatle is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels. Liccle bit alex wheatle paperback books online raru. Booktopia has uprising, a true story by alex wheatle. The award winning author alex wheatle mbe presents his moving autobiographical story of how he became a writer. Alex wheatle is the bestselling author of several books including the modern classic brixton rock, and the multiaward winning crongton series. Nov 17, 2016 alex wheatle wins 2016 guardian childrens fiction prize this article is more than 3 years old author who says his time in jail inspired his love of literature triumphs with crongton knights, set. At 18, he was involved in the brixton uprising and went to prison for 3 months. Straight outta crongton by alex wheatle, paperback. Alex has been longlisted for the carnegie medal, won the guardian childrens fiction award, and was awarded an mbe for services to literature in 2008.
Mar 27, 2018 discover book depositorys huge selection of alex wheatle books online. Born in london of jamaican parents, his first book, brixton rock 1999, tells the story of a 16year old boy of mixed race, in 1980s brixton. He spent most of his childhood in a children\\s home, which he left at 14 to live in a hostel in brixton. In 2008, he was awarded an mbe for services to literature and, in 2016, he won the guardians childrens fiction prize. Following his release from prison he continued to write poems and lyrics and became known.
Author alex wheatles complete list of books and series in order, with the latest. Explore books by alex wheatle with our selection at. Jun 27, 2011 tara arts in association with arcadia books tour october to november 2011 marking the 30th anniversary of the brixton riots, touring for black history month. Alex wheatle will sign books that you can purchase at the event. Arts co editor barney evison went along to experience poetry, song, debate and memories from those who were there singing rivers of babylon at the bca to remember what happened in 1981. Anderson press signs wheatles first historical ya the. Alex wheatle alex wheatle, author of liccle bit and crongton knights, tells us about his long love affair with libraries and how they changed his life. Following his release from prison, he continued to write poems and lyrics and became known as the brixtonbard.
Wheatles political awakening came with the 1981 brixton riots, which he dramatised in his second novel, east of acre lane. Straight outta crongton by alex wheatle, paperback barnes. Alex wheatle is one of the uks most popular black british authors. Alex wheatle spent most of his childhood in a surrey childrens home. Crongton, a district where many immigrant families live in poverty, the troubled district of a larger, nameless city. On his release, he continued to perform as a dj and mc under the name yardman irie, moving in the early \\90s on to the performance poetry. A true story signed copy, by alex wheatle, mbe this gritty but inspiring true story of the awardwinning author alex wheatle is written for emerging. His other books include brixton rock and the crongton series. Andersen press is publishing cane warriors by alex wheatle, a visceral historical novel about the reallife slave uprising against british.
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