East of Acre Lane by Alex Wheatle

East of Acre Lane

Alex Wheatle

A period of terror and uncertainty in London's recent history (the Brixton riots of the early 1980s) is the background for this tale of life, love and danger surrounding Biscuit - a young black man - his friends and family. Get past the language to find the story - a modern romance full of optimism - to show that all things are possible.

Extract
How did I ever get hook up wid dis bad man? Biscuit thought. A cold sweat snaked down from his temples. He thought hard of his hard-working mother and his younger sister and brother, wondering if he would see them again. Only half an hour ago he was smoking a spliff and enjoying a serious smooch with a fit girl. Now he felt like he was approaching the end of his short life.
Parallels
  • Brixton Rock by Alex Wheatle
  • The Scholar: a West Side Story by Courttia Newland