Welcome

Hello Jeremy,

As the sun has finally come out here in the UK (sort of), we're all starting to take our holidays. Case in point: you have me back on newsletter duties for the day! But it's been an interesting week for Peepal Tree news, so we're dashing this one off while we pack our sunscreen and swimming gear. We've got some fabulous news about the Orwell Prize and an auction from the estate of Andrew Salkey for you to peruse.

With love from,

Adam and the Peepal Tree team

Peepal Tree author news and events

Ocean Stirrings named finalist for Orwell Prize

Peepal Tree is pleased to share that Ocean Stirrings by Merle Collins has been named a finalist for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction 2024.

The finalists were announced at Charleston Festival in Sussex on Saturday 25 May, as part of an event on Orwell and his book 1984. The winner will be announced at the Orwell Prize ceremony on the evening of 27 June, at Conway Hall in Central London.

Find out more about Merle Collins and her work at our website.

Praise for Merle Collins

'Imaginative and ambitious . . . a rewarding read and a memorable, intimate vision of colonialism.' New West Indian Guide

'The lushness and particularities of the island are omnipresent in her verse, from the “raindrops huge as grapefruits” to the “radio shouting bout rumors of wind” during hurricane season.'

The New York Times

Ocean Stirrings

In Ocean Stirrings, Merle Collins brings alive the almost hidden life of Louise Langdon Little — the mother of Malcolm X. The book explores her early years in Grenada, her married life in Canada and America, and the tragedy of her incarceration in a psychiatric hospital in Kalamazoo. In the process, Collins gives a brilliant portrayal of how some were able to turn the propagandistic and racist nature of colonial education on its head.

Find out more about Ocean Stirrings

Estate of Andrew Salkey (1928-1995) collection on auction

Fancy a piece of Caribbean art with a literary pedigree (or know someone who does)? Well you're luck's just in, because Roseberys London is hosting an auction of the late Andrew Salkey's art collection. This includes some amazing Caribbean artists, including Aubrey Williams, Denis Williams, and Errol Lloyd. You can even pick up the original cover designs for some of Salkey's books.

Visit the auction page for more information.

Browse books by Andrew Salkey.

Read about Andrew Salkey.

Pick up some Salkey books here!

Events and festivals

Peepal Tree at Leeds Lit Fest 2024

Adam Lowe at Polari in Leeds Lit Fest

Thursday 20 June 2024 Time: 6.30pm Venue: Leeds Central Library

Price: Pay as you feel (£8 suggested donation)

Adam Lowe will perform at Polari Literary Salon's first event in Leeds, reading from his debut collection Patterflash.

Founded in 2007, Polari is a multi award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon known for its high energy, thought-provoking performances, mixing live literature and cabaret.

Featuring Julie Cohen, Adam Lowe and Karen McLeod, with MC Paul Burston. There will be wine, tea or coffee on arrival.

Find more information and tickets here.

Library Libations: Peepal Tree Poets Call to Power

Saturday 22 June 2024

Time: 5–6pm

Venue: The Leeds Library Price: £6 + booking fee

An unmissable reading from two Leeds-based poets with debut collections from the mighty Peepal Tree Press. Emily Zobel Marshall’s Bath of Herbs explores the complexity of mixed-race, hybrid identities and relationships to the English and Welsh mountains, fells, rivers and shorelines from an ‘othered’, unmappable, positionality. Adam Lowe’s Patterflash is a PBS Recommendation, receiving acclaim from The Big Issue and featuring on BBC radio.

Photo by Ashley Karrell.

Find more information and tickets here.

Forthcoming titles

Godzilla and the Song Bird

Set in the period before and after the Bangladeshi war of independence, Manzu Islam's immersive and powerful story has at its heart the continuing friendship between three boys with a love of cinema. As a vision of the world, it has a rich mix of its darkness and light, and is utterly contemporary and Bangla in image and voice.

Published 11 July 2024

Find out more on our website.

Colonial Countryside

Colonial Countryside is a book of poems and short stories commissioned to explore National Trust houses with significant colonial histories. With Peter Kalu, Jacqueline Crooks, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo, Masuda Snaith, Maria Thomas, Malachi, Hannah Lowe, Seni Seneviratne and Andre Bagoo.

Edited by Professor Corinne Fowler.

Published 18 July 2024

Find out more on our website.

As always, you can contact us through our website and social media.

Don't miss our cover reveals on Instagram!

Thank you for supporting Peepal Tree Press — have a great weekend.

peepaltreepress.com