John Lewis and Co.

A Little Play with Interludes

Markham E. A.

Early one morning in London – on Boxing Day – a minicab driver and his customer discover they have much in common. They are of a certain age, came to Britain at about the same time, in their teens, lived in the same street in Kilburn in the 1950s and together can boast 100 years" residence here. In lifestyle and expectation they seem to live in different Englands. One struggles with the language, the other teaches it and writes books. But the second is seeking to establish a new home in "Europe", while the first dreams of returning to Jamaica. Over two days of adult truancy they discover the divergences that have accompanied their overlapping histories, as they flatter, argue, undermine and adopt each other. What next?

Markham's brilliant discursive poem-sequence conjures up another time and another place. He regarded it as possibly his best work.

About the Author

Born in Montserrat in 1939, E. A. Markham has lived in many parts of Europe, though Britain has been his home since 1956. Active in theatre and in literature – he is a story-writer as well as a poet – he is currently Professor of Creative Writing at Sheffield Hallam University, edits the magazine Sheffield Thursday, and directs the biennial Hallam Literature Festival. His most recent book of poems is "Misapprehensions" (Anvil, 1995), and of stories, "Taking the Drawing-Room through Customs" (Peepal Tree, 1997).

Reviews

Awards won by E. A. Markham
Commended, 2009 Poetry Book Society (PBS): Choice – Spring (Looking Out, Looking in)

Back to the list of books