Heartland

by Neil Cross

When Neil Cross was five years old, his mother left him. No note, no phone call, just an empty house and a brow-beaten father. Two years later, she came back for her son. She was not alone. Neil's new step-father was a South-African white supremacist. He was a serial adulterer, a thief, a con man, a racist and a liar. And in many ways, he was the perfect father. In their backstreet Edinburgh slum, Derek Cross introduced Neil to Tom Sawyer, Kidnapped, and The Three Musketeers, and whilst his step-son battled violent anti-English racism everyday in the playground, Derek discovered a new way to isolate his family; he became a Mormon Bishop in the Church of the Latter Day Saints. This is a story about being raised a racist and an outsider - and overcoming it; about family and step-family; about class and religion; and about how resentment breeds violence. And it's about what, in the end, the love of books can do for you.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Autobiography

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2005

About the author

Neil was born in Bristol in 1969. He lived in Edinburgh, Brighton, Leeds and London before settling down. He is the author of several novels including Always the Sun, Burial and Captured as well as the bestselling memoir Heartland. He was lead scriptwriter for the acclaimed series 6 and series 7 of the BBC spy drama series Spooks and is the creator of the forthcoming BBC crime thriller Luther, which is scheduled to appear on BBC1 in 2010, starring Idris Elba. Following the British publication of Captured in January 2010, he is working on his next novel and continues to write for the screen. He lives in New Zealand with his wife and two sons.

Reviews

[Dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of Neil Cross and assumed this was just a one-off book. Now I know he has written several books and is a script writer for some great TV programmes. Impressive!

How many books have I read about kids whose lives are messed up and miserable because of poor parenting and nobody taking much interest in their feelings.

He has clearly turned his life around but I would love to know how a school refuser with dyed hair, makeup and ripped jeans managed this. Let’s hope that one day he finds time to share the next part of his life. He didn’t mention exams at school so obviously he must have gained some qualifications somewhere to get into University, gain a degree and then a Masters.

I would also like to know what happened to Derek Cross and his birth Mother.

A well written memoir.

[MelonFarmer89 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an easy read for a few reasons, especially its content but it's very well written and vivid in its description and imagery. It really struck me in places due to similarities to my own childhood and therefore found it very moving and difficult to read in long sittings. It won't be for everyone as it's far from suitable for the faint of heart and it's not so much an autobiography as childhood memoirs and I can see why some would think it a pointless narrative, and personally I would have liked to have read about him getting to be where he is in his career instead of ending so abruptly. However, Neil Cross is one of a kind and his story and writing is very distinctive, hard-hitting and relatable even at its darkest. Thoroughly good read.

[Kingfan30 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure what to make of this book if I’m honest. It started off ok and I felt sorry for this young boy being uprooted and carted to the other end of the country and Derek at first seems ok. But as the book went on and the bullying at school started and the abuse of the poor animals from his step dad, I felt like the tone changed, it became very matter of fact. There was quite a lot of information about joining the Mormon church and I appreciate it was something that had an impact on him, but there was maybe more info than I needed. I can totally understand why he went off the rails but then ending was very abrupt and like others I’d be interested in how he turned it around to become a writer on some of the biggest shows on TV.

[Dieter Jansons · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this is a very well written book, and deeply personable for Neil Cross, I felt it lacked purpose. Interesting to know that he is the creator of Luther.

[Barry Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

As autobiographies go this is one of the better ones I’ve had the pleasure of reading.

[Silke · Rating 3 out of 5]

hummm don't know....it's not a bad book, you can look inside the characters. It's easy to read, and it's a biography of the authors youth. If you like biography's this book is intersting, also if you like psychology. It's interesting how the young boy is grewing, from not been loved, to someone looking for attention.
Curious to read other books from this author....and curious what happened after the childhood of the young boy Neil, how did he find work, where did he lives, etc....how he end up in London? ....

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a boy who is lost amidst the totally incomprehensible doings of the adults in his life. The adults do untold damage to this child and have no idea what is going on in his life.
The one adult who takes him in hand, and who he idolises, is his stepfather, a basically empty person. One of the few good things this man does in Neil's life is turn him onto books.
Well and simply written.

[Len · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a sad story about how a child's life changed when his mother came back after having run away, with her lover, his stepfather, and how he fell in love with this man, a racist, an adulterer, hidden behind the kindness..
I do not really love this book but it's a good book.
At least i can learn a huge lot of words.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be one of those 'Poor Me' books but in fact it was a very interesting read. The author told the story in a very matter of fact way and having read what a very odd childhood he had I am amazed at the way in which he writes. He is interesting and thoughtful and the style of writing is very readable.

[Michele Harrod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have to sneak this in before Unsaid, library due date approaching fast...

[Susan Brown]

biography