The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah

‘The Life and Rhymes has a performative quality reminiscent of Zephaniah’s poetry – honest, unshowy and ultimately unthreatening. It matches the man.’ * The Guardian *
‘Vivid, frank and to the point, yet bristling with compassion, this is a rousing romp through a life less ordinary and a timely reminder of art’s redemptive force.’ * Mojo magazine *
‘Compelling and inspiring’ * Scottish Poetry Library *
‘His singular career has spanned poetry, music and activism, with detours into acting and academia. And he’s really lived a life less ordinary – from teenage jailbird to celebrity role model, embraced by the British Establishment, even if he hasn’t always reciprocated. His scepticism about the necessity of his memoir, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, is unfounded.’ * The Scotsman *
‘His singular career has spanned poetry, music and activism, with detours into acting and academia. And he’s really lived a life less ordinary – from teenage jailbird to celebrity role model, embraced by the British Establishment, even if he hasn’t always reciprocated. His scepticism about the necessity of his memoir, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, is unfounded.’ * The Scotsman *
‘This is a beautifully penned and highly entertaining account of an intriguing life, opening us up not just to Zephaniah’s story but to a wide range of topics arising out of it…tackled with down-to-earth honesty and insight, not to mention an element of gentle humour and self-effacement.’
* Morning Star *
‘The people’s laureate’ * Birmingham Mail *
‘A celebration of a truly extraordinary life story which remarks upon the power of poetry and the importance of pushing boundaries with the arts.’ * Shropshire Star *
‘Retaining a humility and humour that belie his extraordinary rise from street gang to cultural touchstone…Zephaniah is one of the rare voices that manages to remain determinedly outside the Establishment (he famously turned down an OBE) yet is embraced by it…a riveting read worthy of a Netflix drama.’ * iNews *
‘Filled with extraordinary moments, taking in his first poetry performance in a church aged 10, his time in borstal and prison, and his stint in a gang when he feared for his life and slept with a gun under his pillow. He was framed by the police for murder, turned his life around to the extent that he developed a friendship with Nelson Mandela – and his words helped usher in freedom in South Africa. But the book is also a searing social history of Britain and a salutary reminder that when it comes to the fight for racial equality, there is no end bell.’ * Big Issue North *
‘Zephaniah pulls no punches when it comes to talking about the racism that has shaped his life or the mischief he got up to in response to it.’ * The Spectator *

Benjamin Zephaniah was best known for his dynamic performance poetry, but he was also an award-winning playwright, a novelist, political activist, and musician. He wrote several novels for teenagers and was an outspoken campaigner for human and animal rights. He regularly appeared on radio and TV programmes. His work continues to be discovered and enjoyed by adults and children alike.

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