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1My Name Is Why
At the age of seventeen, after a childhood in a fostered family followed by six years in care homes, Norman Greenwood was given his birth certificate. He learned that his real name was not Norman. It was Lemn Sissay. He was British and Ethiopian. And he learned that his mother had been pleading for his safe return to her since his birth.
Here Sissay recounts his life story. It is a story of neglect and determination. Misfortune and hope. Cruelty and triumph.
Sissay reflects on a childhood in care, self-expression and Britishness, and in doing so explores the institutional care system, race, family and the meaning of home. Written with all the lyricism and power you would expect from one of the nation's best-loved poets, this moving, frank and timely memoir is the result of a life spent asking questions, and a celebration of the redemptive power of creativity.
Here Sissay recounts his life story. It is a story of neglect and determination. Misfortune and hope. Cruelty and triumph.
Sissay reflects on a childhood in care, self-expression and Britishness, and in doing so explores the institutional care system, race, family and the meaning of home. Written with all the lyricism and power you would expect from one of the nation's best-loved poets, this moving, frank and timely memoir is the result of a life spent asking questions, and a celebration of the redemptive power of creativity.
The brilliant @lemnsissay is one of the greatest people I am privileged to know. His story is harrowing and inspiring all at once. It is now a book called My Name is Why that you should read. https://t.co/Abf7rl6FUJ [source]
Dave Gorman
Was buying @lemnsissay's book (because Lemn's great) and was delighted to see he was a best seller. But now I'm imagining a disgruntled book-buyer scouring this section and getting upset because the racist and discriminatory books he's looking for aren't there. https://t.co/6ortqu6rez [source]
Matt Haig
The brilliant @lemnsissay is one of the greatest people I am privileged to know. His story is harrowing and inspiring all at once. It is now a book called My Name is Why that you should read. https://t.co/Abf7rl6FUJ [source]
