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Mother Country

Real Stories of the Windrush Children

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About this listen

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2019 JHALAK PRIZE

A leading new exploration of the Windrush generation featuring David Lammy, Lenny Henry, Corinne Bailey Rae, Sharmaine Lovegrove, Hannah Lowe, Jamz Supernova, Natasha Gordon and Rikki Beadle-Blair.

For the pioneers of the Windrush generation, Britain was 'the Mother Country'. They made the long journey across the sea, expecting to find a place where they would be be welcomed with open arms; a land in which you were free to build a new life, eight thousand miles away from home.

This remarkable book explores the reality of their experiences, and those of their children and grandchildren, through 22 unique real-life stories spanning more than 70 years.

Contributors include: Catherine Ross, Corinne Bailey-Rae, David Lammy, Gail Lewis, Hannah Lowe, Howard Gardner, Jamz Supernova, Kay Montano, Kemi Alemoru, Kimberley McIntosh, Lazare Sylvestre, Lenny Henry, Maria del Pilar Kaladeen, Myrna Simpson, Naomi Oppenheim, Natasha Gordon, Nellie Brown, Paul Reid, Riaz Phillips, Rikki Beadle-Blair, Sharmaine Lovegrove, Sharon Frazer-Carroll.

©2018 Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff (P)2018 Headline Publishing Group Ltd Caribbean Creators Europe Great Britain Funny

Critic reviews

"The story of Windrush must not be sterilised, or overly simplified. It is not only a story of successful integration, sport and cultural icons, or even everyday heroes like my mother, any more than it is only a story of Home Office failure, of systemic racism, or the consequences of slavery. The story of Windrush, is, like any other, a story of humanity. Of life, love, struggle, hope, misery, success and failure. It's one that is too often neglected in our media, but this volume acts as a remedy to that failure of story-telling, which I ask you to both savour and share." (David Lammy MP)

All stars
Most relevant
Beautiful rich cultural stories, marking Caribbean folks journeys to the 'Mother Country'. Promises of streets paved with  gold, but all too often met with awful discrimination and racist abuse. Being of Bajan/ Trinidadian heritage, it was wonderful and emotional to hear honest, heartfelt Windrush experiences containing such warmth and showing how black communities grew in the U.K. and supported each other.

Beautiful!

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I have learnt so much in this book and I relate so much to this book
A must read book so honest and truthful

Excellent

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This was so real and beautifully pieced together. I learnt so much about my mother’s journey

Excellent

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This is something that I am able to gold valuable. Been a mixed race man who has struggled to dig up the past due to the lack of mainstream reporting on black Britain. This book has introduced myself to the events on how my existence occurred. fascinating stories makes the book easily listenable.

Helping with Identity

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This is a book full of stories, they are funny, heartfelt, some heartbreaking interesting stories about remarkably brave people who came to Britain for a new life.
I hope there is a second book in the making, some of these stories moved me, abs transported me back in time!

Excellent a must read

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