In today's Bookbrunch...
Virago is to publish in February a new edition of Adelle Stripe's Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile, a 'raw, honest and humorous' novel that tells the story of the short life of playwright Andrea Dunbar, creator of the classic Eighties film Rita, Sue and Bob Too.
The original edition of Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile appeared in 2017, when it was shortlisted for the Gordon Burn and Portico prizes.
The novel interweaves fact and fiction, letters and scripts, newspaper stories and memory, and is set against the backdrop of the infamous Buttershaw estate in Bradford. 'It reveals how a shy teenage girl defied the circumstances into which she was born and went on to become one of her generation's greatest dramatists and provides an unflinching, heartfelt look at the north/south divide during the Thatcher era.'
Caitlin Landuyt, senior editor at Virago, said: "Adelle brings Andrea Dunbar's extraordinary life to the page with empathy, verve and wit. Not only is this an exceptional portrait of a brilliant artist, it is also an important and sharp look at class, one with lessons applicable today. I'm so thrilled we're reissuing this gorgeous novel on the Virago list."
Stripe, who has contributed a new author's note, said: "When I first started writing this novel in 2013, it was Virago's green editions that provided inspiration. Without Pat Barker's Union Street or Nell Dunn's Up the Junction, I doubt this book would ever have seen light of day. It is a genuine privilege and honour to see Black Teeth republished alongside such legendary authors, by the most respected feminist press in the UK, if not the world. It is the perfect home for Andrea Dunbar's story, one which again will be relevant in the public domain for Bradford City of Culture 2025."
Stripe's memoir Base Notes is also due in February, from White Rabbit (Orion). She is represented by Matthew Hamilton at the Hamilton Agency.