An unforgettable portrait of London and one of the most talked about debuts of all time!'The
almost preposterous talent was clear from the first pages' GuardianOn New Years Day 1975 the
day of his almost-suicide life said yes to Archie Jones. Not OK or
'You-might-as-well-carry-on-since-you've-started'. A resounding affirmative. Promptly seizing
his second life by the horns Archie meets and marries Clara Bowden a Caribbean girl
twenty-eight years his junior. Thus begins a tale of friendship of love and war of three
culture and three families over three generations . . . *****'Street-smart and learned sassy
and philosophical all at the same time' New York Times'Outstanding' Sunday Telegraph'An
astonishingly assured début funny and serious . . . I was delighted' Salman Rushdie
