Neil Campbell is the renowned chronicler of working class lives. The types of lives on the whole, airbrushed out of literature, out of history, out of media in general. Like a British Bukowski. Oh my god does he restore our days. He should be on the high school curriculum, of course. Come on Ed Sec. Michael Gove, Nicky Morgan, Justine Greening, Damian Hinds, Gavin Williamson, Nadhim Zahawi, Michelle Donelan, James Cleverly (most inappropriate name for an edu.sec ever), Kit Malthouse. Working class kids can stand reading about their futureless futures.
Neil Campbell has published many acclaimed novels - his Manchester based, Zero Hours trio captures the most of making sure the humdrum banality of this life doesn't drive you down completely. Until it does, there is always hope. Neil's short stories and collected poetry have reached wide audiences and he has been featured in Best of British short story collections three times. So you see, he's no slouch with words. (That's a message for Kit).
Neil's new collection, Licensed Premises, published just now by Salt, consists of 14 stories, funny, dour, poignant and fabulous, often all at once.
Licensed Premises is available now from you wherever you get your books. We're lucky to have a bookstore within walking distance, I know that's too much information, but the Bear Bookshop is nearby, so we are sorted. If you are an inveterate online shopper, with say little interest in that old atavistic practice of walking, you have my most huge-est respect, in that case, go get Licensed Premises from the Bear Bookshop Bookshop.org page here »». It will come to you. But whatever your ways, do acquire it somehow... any old how.
Meanwhile, read The Last Bookseller, the story Neil shared with Outsideleft, here »».
Here's Neil with a little taster from Licensed Premises.
Essential Info
Neil Campbell - Licensed Premises available now from Salt Press and all bookstores.
Neil Campbell's website
Neil Campbell at Outsideleft
Tory Secretaries of State for Education 2021-2022
Kit Malthouse 2022 to...
James Cleverly MP. 2022 to 2022.
The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP. 2022 to 2022.
The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP. 2021 to 2022.
The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP. 2019 to 2021.
Even the list infers who gives a shit chaos.