Alex Wheatle Reads Brenton Brown

Posted 00:00, 24 August 2011

Wednesday 24th August 7.30pm-9pm

Alex Wheatle, aka the Brixton Bard, will read from his new novel Brenton Brown and answer questions from the audience. Alex writes about family ties, love and tragedy with humour and authenticity and brings the streets of South London and its characters alive like no other writer around. 

In Friday's Independent Boyd Tonkin comments on the novel's connection to the very recent "blazing headlines". http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/brenton-brown-by-alex-wheatle-2335931.html

Although a long-awaited follow-up to Brixton Rock this novel stands alone. The Times said of Brixton Rock "A debut which confirms its author a pro in prose." "Hard-boiled authenticity" The Guardian on The Dirty South.

Alex, of Jamaican origin, was born in South London. He is a founder member of the Crucial Rocker sound system, for whom he has written lyrics for performances. Alex is now working with The Book Trust to introduce literature to the dispossessed; to this end, he organises and holds workshops in prisons and young adult institutions. In 2008 he was awarded an MBE for his services to literature.

Brenton Brown is published by Arcadia Books in paperback £10.99