STREET

IN THIS NOVEL BIYI BANDELE RECREATES THE UNIQUE ATMOSPHERE OF A MULTIRACIAL COMMUNITY IN CONTEMPORARY BRITAIN. THE STREET IS POPULATED WITH A SERIES OF AMAZING CHARACTERS -- MIDE THE BOOKSELLER, WHO MOONLIGHTS AS A STAND-UP COMEDIAN; THE HECKLER, WHO WITTILY TAUNTS THE PUBLIC PREACHERS OUTSIDE THE TUBE STATION; HAIFA KAMPANA, WHO STALKS THE WOMEN HE LOVES. USING THESE CHARACTERS, BANDELE CREATES THE BACKDROP AGAINST WHICH HE POSITIONS NEHUSHTA, THE PAINTER, AND EXPLORES HER RESTORED RELATIONSHIP WITH HER FATHER, OSSIE JONES, WHO HAS AWAKENED FROM A FIFTEEN-YEAR COMA. BANDELE'S BLEND OF HUMOUR, SENTIMENTALITY AND THE FANTASTIC IS AN INVIGORATING LITERARY EXPLORATION OF THE DIASPORIC REALITY OF CONTEMPORARY BRITAIN.