This initial autobiography from the ex-Labour MP and cabinet minister covers his childhood and adolescence spent in the poorer parts of West London between 1950 and 1968. And poverty is one of the main themes, an ever-present fact of life, though one to be met as a challenge and if not overcome, then something not to be overcome by.
With a father rarely around and neglectful in supporting the family, Alan Johnson’s upbringing fell to the two women of the household – mother, Lily, and older sister, Linda. Lily’s work ethic kept them afloat, and as her health failed the precociously capable Linda took on responsibilities beyond her years.
This is no pity memoir. The financial and material situation was often dire, but Johnson still enjoyed life on the streets of pre-gentrified Notting Hill and Chelsea. He endured school, progressing despite himself, but learned more from his part time jobs earning coppers to spend on watching QPR and buying records.
Simply and
effectively written, the book is a tribute to the two women in his early life,
who ensured he had a safe and loving home in which to thrive. It provides a
valuable first hand historical record of the times, with plenty of nostalgia
for those of his vintage, and eye-popping detail for those of later generations
who may think life is tough now.
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