A Bad Decade for Good People

by Joe Bedford

A fiercely hopeful novel about family, sexuality, grief and how we as individuals can rediscover our political agency in the face of continued uncertainty. Brighton, 2016. Laurie wears the scar given to her by a policeman’ s baton as a mark of pride among her circle of bright young activists. Her conscionable but sensitive brother George should be a part of that circle, until the appearance of enigmatic Spanish migrant Antonio threatens to divert him from his sister’ s world of marches and moral accountability. As the clouds gather over Brighton and the EU referendum accelerates both Laurie’ s political zeal and Antonio’ s ambiguous desires, George is faced with the fact that their city of parties and protests is suddenly a place where the possibility of saving the world – as well as the people around him – is in jeopardy of being lost forever. At once a letter of support to everyone disillusioned by British politics, and a deeply perceptive snapshot of modern relationships, A Bad Decade for Good People is a captivating state-of-the-nation tale that begs the when it feels like the world is falling apart, how do you keep those you love from doing the same?

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2023

Reviews

[Laura Besley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bad Decade for Good People – Joe Bedford’s debut novel to be published by Parthian in June 2023 – opens with an act of violence: ‘If the policeman’s baton had found Laurie half an inch lower she would be blind in one eye.’ The short prologue introduces the idea of juxtaposition, which I believe runs throughout the novel, both on a collective and individual level, for example: the police who maim and also protect; yearning to be seen by those we love, yet hiding from them. And how can we reconcile who we are with who others think we are?

Throughout the novel, nature plays a prominent role, from the ‘moon-shaped line of damage illuminated above [Laurie’s] eye’ to the various descriptions of Brighton – where a large proportion of the story is set – such as: ‘[the] shore stretches out in one long continuous line, unnaturally straight and unbroken but for the stone groynes that reach out from the shingle’. The strong sense of place is reinforced by particular facts about the city an outsider is unlikely to know, for example the ‘tradition of leaving unwanted domestic goods out on the street – regardless of how broken they are, how difficult to move or how degradingly stained’.

George, the main character and Laurie’s younger brother, moves to Brighton to be closer to his sister, who lives there with her girlfriend. It is the summer of 2016. The summer of political turmoil: Brexit, David Cameron resigning, Theresa May becoming Prime Minister. Later in the year, Barack Obama is succeeded by Donald Trump. ‘It was all bad news or fake news or a combination of both.’ Laurie and her friends are heavily involved in the local political scene and tensions run high as the ‘decade get[s] darker and darker with no respite.’

This is also the year George meets Antonio, a Spanish naval engineer living in England with the hope of solving a family mystery from the past. It is through this central relationship that the novel continues to explore the themes mentioned above, as well as further themes of identity and belonging, both on a personal level and a communal one. How do we navigate a world not of our making, a world we no longer recognise?

In many ways, for many people, the 21st century has not been easy. Through Antonio’s quest, we are reminded that we are not the first generation dealing with political upheaval and national frictions. In an interview in TIME Magazine, Margaret Atwood states, ‘The moment when you give up hope, that is the moment when you cease to take any actions that might be positive to get out of the doom.’ On both a macro and micro level, A Bad Decade for Good People echoes Atwood’s sentiments. Exploring timeless themes as well as the tumult of current politics makes this book a must-read for our time.

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

(No spoilers) The best books – whatever the story or the setting – take you inside a person so that you feel you have walked a way with them, inside them, seeing the world as they see it, feeling what they feel. The central character of this debut novel, George, is just such a character and to be in ‘his world’, as we are for the duration of this book, is to feel something real and living. The story is set in Brighton around the time of the Brexit referendum, though we also travel to Spain and even into history touching on the Spanish Civil War. It is a story of family and a story of loss (indeed the loss in this novel is particularly well written and being so ‘beside’ George through the loss is to experience it in all its painful physicality). But there is hope and love and a sort of happiness in the novel too.

The writing is fluent and utterly convincing – this feels like real life and like a deep confidence shared with the reader. I wholly recommend this book. Getting to know George – and the biggest compliment I can give to the writing is that we do get to know George in all his wonderful complexity, his faults and his strengths as a person – getting to know George is well worth the read.

[KatieT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am soo grateful I found this uncovered gem of a book! I cannot believe that this book has not gotten more recognition..... That simply has to change as it genuinely very special!

It is a such a beautifully written story set during UKs brexit referendum but with the political uncertainty in 2024, reading this novel ignites hope and brings back the fighting spirit that is very much needed.

This multi - layered story also examines grief, uncertainty and sibling love.

I genuinely fell in love with each character in the story and as a young adult who voted for first time in brexit, politically left wing and felt I could relate to alot of the feelings that were jumping out of the pages, I just know this is a story that will not leave me for a long long time.

[Corinna Edwards-Colledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know Joe from writing events, and I was really excited to hear he had written a novel. We did a book exchange, one of mine for one of his, and I've just finished reading A Bad Decade for Good People.

As someone who has lived in Brighton since the early 90's and who also cares about politics, I found something deeply authentic and moving about this book. You really feel you are walking in the shoes of the main character, feeling all of his self doubt, and occasional flashes of joy. It is also great on the ambiguities and passions of sibling relationships and friendships.

Balancing the personal and the political with great skill, this is an engrossing read.

[Ben Lear · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book recommended by a friend on Facebook so went in with high expectations for a book discussing politics and some of this dreadful decade we've lived through. As someone who has spent many years organising in left projects the politics of this book really felt flat and off. However, beyond that this book was thoughtful and earnest, the friendships portrayed in it felt realistic and the underlying vein of kindness throughout the whole book was a soothing balm for such rocky years.

Probably worth a read!

1/52

[Emma Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real force and reflection of our time.

Powerful, and with a striking start which gripped me in from the first few lines.

Its unusual to see young people so passionate about politics and fighting for their country/future and justice and this works well with this spin.

Some beautiful prose with this, and an even more sentimental and thought provoking storyline.

One that will stay with me.

[Ambs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changes you. The way Joe creates such detailed, layered characters with such depth, is truly amazing. The underlying political agency is so understable and relatable in today's climate, sharing feelings of political exhaustion and calls for revolution and change. I HIGHLY recommend this book.