Brenton Brown

by Alex Wheatle

Overview

This gritty novel tells of Brenton Brown and his fatal love for Juliet, a woman he soon learns is his half-sister. The struggle each wages to resist the other has far-reaching consequences for the lives they are attempting to lead. This is a story about family ties, forbidden love, and the hard knocks of life on the streets of South London. Riven with robust humor, unforgettable characters, flawlessly accurate dialogue, and towering emotion, this is Alex Wheatle at his best. "Compelling."—Publishers Weekly.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781908129864
Publisher:	Arcadia Books Ltd
Publication date:	01/05/2014
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

From time to time, a new book arrives which catches its moment in an almost uncanny grip. Set in the middle of the last decade, the latest novel by South London writer Alex Wheatle has an all-too-obvious connection to this week's blazing headlines. —Boyd Tonkin, Independent

Editorial Reviews

Flat dialogue and creaky prose get in the way of compelling elements in this continuation of the semi-autobiographical Brenton Brown saga that Wheatle started with Brixton Rock. Brenton is living in south London near his half-sister, Juliet, with whom, 20 years ago, he had a passionate affair, producing a daughter, Breanna. A select few know the truth, but Clayton, Juliet’s banker husband, and Breanna are not among them; Breanna has always called Benton uncle. Brenton wants her to know the truth, and Juliet is sympathetic, but their friends who know worry about how Breanna would react to such shocking news. Brenton has other problems as well: he doesn’t like Breanna’s boyfriend; things aren’t going well with his own girlfriend; his mother is sick, and he resents her for shoving him into a series of youth homes. As Breanna’s 21st birthday draws near, Brenton ponders using the occasion to redefine relations. Juliet, meanwhile, is weighing a run for parliament and spending more time than she’d like thinking about her half-brother. Buried beneath the constant repetition of the characters’ most basic thoughts and long passages of boring exposition are some modest rewards. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly