Alex Wheatle obituary
Author of the Crongton novels whose stories of inner-city life give a realistic portrait of growing up in contemporary BritainBest known as the author of the Crongton series of young adult novels, Alex Wheatle, who has died aged 62 of prostate cancer, was a writer, speaker and activist whose well-observed stories based on his own life gave a painful and vivid picture of his tough early years and adolescence in south London.His experiences, of growing up in an abusive care system, police brutality and a spell in prison, shaped Alex’s worldview and he wanted others to know about them; his passion and anger were tempered but never dulled by his subsequent success as a writer. Known as the Brixton Bard, he wrote fiercely but with understanding, energy and humour in a series of adult novels, starting with Brixton Rock (1999), before switching to young adult (YA) fiction. Continue reading...
Author of the Crongton novels whose stories of inner-city life give a realistic portrait of growing up in contemporary Britain
Best known as the author of the Crongton series of young adult novels, Alex Wheatle, who has died aged 62 of prostate cancer, was a writer, speaker and activist whose well-observed stories based on his own life gave a painful and vivid picture of his tough early years and adolescence in south London.
His experiences, of growing up in an abusive care system, police brutality and a spell in prison, shaped Alex’s worldview and he wanted others to know about them; his passion and anger were tempered but never dulled by his subsequent success as a writer. Known as the Brixton Bard, he wrote fiercely but with understanding, energy and humour in a series of adult novels, starting with Brixton Rock (1999), before switching to young adult (YA) fiction. Continue reading...
