{"product_id":"alanjohnsonthisboy","title":"Alan Johnson - This Boy","description":"\u003cp\u003eWritten by Alan Johnson. Themes include Biography \u0026amp; Autobiography, Cultural, Ethnic \u0026amp; Regional, Historical, Military, Political.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'The best memoir by a politician you will ever read'\u003c\/b\u003e Philip Collins, \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eSchool on the Kings Road, Chelsea in the Swinging 60s, the rock-and-roll years, the race riots; \u003ci\u003ethis boy\u003c\/i\u003e has seen it all.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e ________\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Alan Johnson's childhoodwas not so much difficult as unusual, particularly for a man who was destined to become Home Secretary. Not in respect of the poverty, which was shared with many of those living in Britain's post-war slums, but in its transition from being part of a two-parent family to having a single mother and then to no parents at all...\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e This is essentially the story of \u003cb\u003etwo incredible women\u003c\/b\u003e- \u003cb\u003eAlan's mother, Lily,\u003c\/b\u003e who battled against poor health, poverty, domestic violence and loneliness to try to ensure a better life for her children; and \u003cb\u003ehis sister, Linda,\u003c\/b\u003e who had to assume an enormous amount of responsibility at a very young age and who fought to keep the family together and out of care when she herself was still only a child.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e This Boy is one man's story, but it is also the story of England and the West London slums which are hard to imagine in the capital today. No matter how harsh the details, Alan Johnson writes with a spirit of generous acceptance, of humour and openness which makes his book anything but a grim catalogue of miseries.\u003cbr\u003e ________\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003ePraise For \u003ci\u003eThis Boy\u003c\/i\u003e-\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 'Moving and unforgettable' \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e'Poignant' \u003ci\u003eTelegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 'Eloquent' \u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e'Wonderful' \u003ci\u003eSpectator\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 'Tribute to two strong women' \u003ci\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paperback\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll books at Vastela are pre-owned. Condition varies from good to near-new. No book is sold in unacceptable condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vastela Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57825549812086,"sku":null,"price":6.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7144\/1981\/files\/17615084.jpg?v=1779439589","url":"https:\/\/www.vastelabooks.com\/products\/alanjohnsonthisboy","provider":"Vastela Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}