Society Within

Author: Courttia Newland

* It's bad! - the authentic voice of life on an Estate in late twentieth-century Britain

New to the Greenside Estate, West London, is Elisha: sweet, bright, sassy and just eighteen. As Elisha negotiates some new territory with more than fair share of dark corners, we take in the interlocking lives of the other Greensiders.

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Summary

It's bad! - the authentic voice of life on an Estate in late twentieth-century Britain

Description

SOCIETY WITHIN takes us back to the Greenside Estate, West London, scene of Courttia Newland's ground-breaking and hugely successful first novel, THE SCHOLAR. Newly arrived on the estate is Elisha: sweet, bright, sassy and just eighteen. As Elisha negotiates some new territory with more than fair share of dark corners, we take in the vividly interlocking lives of the other Greensiders: cool, ambitious Valerie, with some bad secrets to deal with; Little Stacey, looking for his first girl; Orin, dealing, stealing and trying to stay away from anything too lethal.

Courttia Newland tells gripping stories from real lives - stories of dreamers and fighters, love and revenge, friendship and betrayal - in a language burning with energy, originality and conviction.

Critic Reviews

“"Young, gifted and black!" If the phrase hadn't already been kicking around for a few decades it would have been invented for Courttia Newland ... Newland has held up a mirror to a part of our society that many people, especially those in the literary world, would otherwise not know about - or would maybe like to forget about”

Masterful ... Warm & witty ... an impressive achievement - GUARDIAN

Consolidates his position as one of Britain's most important young black novelists ... a truly gifted storyteller - TIME OUT

Fairly crackles with depictions of teenage temptations ... after the whitewash better known as NOTTING HILL, the antidote couldn't be better timed - i-D MAGAZINE

Should have Irvine Welsh weeping into his overhyped beer - GLASGOW HERALD

Masterful ... Warm & witty ... an impressive achievement - GUARDIAN

Consolidates his position as one of Britain's most important young black novelists ... a truly gifted storyteller - TIME OUT

Fairly crackles with depictions of teenage temptations ... after the whitewash better known as NOTTING HILL, the antidote couldn't be better timed - i-D MAGAZINE

Should have Irvine Welsh weeping into his overhyped beer - GLASGOW HERALD

About the Author

Courttia Newland is the twenty-five-year-old author of THE SCHOLAR. He has also contributed to various anthologies including DISCO 2000, NEW WRITERS 8, AFROBEAT and TEENAGE KICKS. Film rights to THE SCHOLAR have been optioned and he is working on the screenplay.