Mother Country: Real Stories of the Windrush Children

by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff

A leading new exploration of the Windrush generation featuring David Lammy, Lenny Henry, Corinne Bailey Rae, Sharmaine Lovegrove, Hannah Lowe, Jamz Supernova, Natasha Gordon and Rikki Beadle-Blair.

For the pioneers of the Windrush generation, Britain was 'the Mother Country'. They made the long journey across the sea, expecting to find a place where they would be be welcomed with open arms; a land in which you were free to build a new life, eight thousand miles away from home.

This remarkable book explores the reality of their experiences, and those of their children and grandchildren, through 22 unique real-life stories spanning more than 70 years.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Race, Politics, Adult, British Literature

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2018

Reviews

[Karris Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried lots of times reading this with out really knowing why. Just knowing that I felt seen and heard. That these stories made me miss my grandma, it made me wish I’d asked her so much more, that I had recorded her voice when she told me stories. So I could remember what she told me and the way her voice sounds.
It made me wonder about my dad, how he felt growing up in a white world, being the only black child in school. Growing up without his dad, who looked after him when my grandma went to work? It made me think about his identity, his feelings of Jamaican-ness. Why he married a white woman, then had children with another - to be accepted? Before marrying a Jamaican woman. I’ll speak to him about all these things now, before it’s too late. So thank you to all the writers for this.
Each story had me questioning different elements of my own identity and made me want to learn more about my heritage. I’m so glad our history and stories are being heard.

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enlightening, powerful and deeply moving collection of stories. This is such an important piece of work and one that helps to fill the embarrassing gap in the British education curriculum.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are the voices and memories of the children of the Windrush generation told in their own words. Very interesting and at times, very moving.

[L A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read numerous pieces of Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff's writings in various publications so was keen to read this. Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for providing me with a review copy.

This book is a wonderful collection of the stories of the families of the Windrush generation. The Windrush issue is currently prevalent in the media and although most have heard about it, many may not understand the background and why what is happening to those affected by it is injust. I will hold my hand up and say I too was in this camp, but this book enabled me to gain a deeper understanding of the situation and how it has impacted the people involved.

This book also gave me an insight into a different culture, one that is unfamiliar to me. Growing up and living in rural Scotland does not always give me the exposure to other cultures but by reading this book I was able to gain a glimpse into the experiences of others. I particularly appreciated the focus on women's stories, something the author highlighted had been largely absent in other collections.

The book chronicles the sacrifices made by many and the families that were often broken as a result. The sacrifice made for a country that invited them and then years later tried to devalue and deny their contributions. There are heartbreaking anecdotes of racism, and the determination to hold onto their culture despite the hostility they faced. However, there is also joy, humour and a quiet dignity from the mix of celebrities and everyday people who have contributed their stories to this book.

First hand accounts are invaluable in helping students to really empathise with tbhe impact governmental decisions can have on the lives of those affected by them. I would recommend this book as reading to anyone wishing to explore these issues with their classes.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.
An exploration of the Windrush generation featuring David Lammy, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Sharmaine Lovegrove, along with many others.
For the Windrush generation and those who came before, Britain was ‘the Mother Country’, they made the long journey across the sea to a country thousands of miles from home where they expected to find a place where they would be welcomed, a place where you could build a new life, where you could be anybody. What they instead found was a country that objected to them being here simply because of the colour of their skin, it didn’t matter if you actually came to work or you were actually a chancer all that they saw was that you weren’t white and that was all that counted, it would be nice if in the intervening years things had changed but between the despicable attempts to try and deport the surviving members of the Windrush generation, the demonization of all Muslims because of the actions of a few, and the rise of far right movements across the world it is clear that we haven’t learnt a damned thing.
If you only read one story from this book then it has to be the one about Joy Gardner, a woman whose only crime was to have over stayed her visa, and being black. Given the level of restraint used against Joy you would think that she was a serial killer.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book on Audible. Each story in the book is narrated by different voice which added to the authenticity and character of each story. I enjoyed this book because I both learned historical facts I didn't know and because it swept me away into far away places and past decades. The narration in the different dialects made it really helped to achieve that effect. I loved it.

[Rania T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stunning example of why the personal stories of Immigrants need to be documented for future generations and to provide an alternative voice against those who "write the dominant narratives" of history.

[Salomée Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST READ if you want to learn more about the Windrush generation/scandal and celebrate Caribbean culture and heritage! Loved it.

[Gail Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

My three daughters are 3rd generation descendants of the Windrush Generation..Their grandparents would tell me of their harrowing experience when they arrived here for that better life, aswell as telling uu about their lives in the beautiful island of Jamaica.
Now through reading this book, I see that their experience was what the majority went through. Awful experiences for a generation that were asked to come here and help the Mother Country.
These short chapters are a fantastic insight into the lives of these contrasting characters; a great read especially for those who have connections to the Windrush Generation.

[Wanita Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a must read to get insight into the Windrush Generation and their families. I think it was well put together having stories from all different backgrounds, and experiences in coming to the UK. As well as this, I liked how in some of the stories they explained that not everyone coming to the UK was in need of a better life as some of the people leaving the Carribbean had a good life there and came to the UK because they were called to rebuild etc. Many found this as an opportunity to experience a new culture and a new country and to bring expertise as well. What I enjoyed about the book as well, was reading all the different perspectives, and the emphasis on the fact that many people came on their mother's passports, however decades later some of those children were told they were illegal and needed to be sent back to their respective countries. It's an eye-opening read and shows that the people who came over made the most of it and worked really hard so that the families they would have in UK wouldn't have to suffer and would have a good life.

[Alannah Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since the story involving the disgrace of a Home Office broke in the news, I'd been following it. Having finished an Empire course which included learning about the experiences of the British empire on people who were from Britain's colonies, I found the story interesting and quite shocking. When I saw this book through NetGalley, I knew I just had to read it, and I'm glad I got the chance to read this novel.

I felt that I was able to learn a lot more about the experiences of the Windrush and their reasons for coming over to Britain. The book was able to give me an insight into another culture which I probably would have gotten the chance to learn about. I found the different stories interesting, and I was hooked from the first one. I appreciated the focus on women within the novel, as a historian I feel this is important.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a remarkable book. Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, while injecting his own personality into the introduction, wisely takes a step back letting the accounts of Windrush families from all walks of life do the talking. Some of their stories are moving, anger-inducing, heartbreaking, and inspiring. There were a number of accounts in this book that left me in awe of what so many individuals put themselves through to try to make a home in the UK under less than welcoming conditions.

Makes the Windrush Scandal seem even more horrific if it were possible.

Highly recommended.

This was an ARC in exchange for an honest review. With thanks to Netgalley and Headline.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are a must read, not just for anyone interested in the Windrush generation, but for anyone interested in British history. Windrush immigrants, their children and grandchildren provide illuminating accounts of what it meant to come to Britain, experience the harsh life and everyday racisms and grow up in a country that has managed to make them feel unwelcome, whilst also being their home, where they have lived, loved, worked (extremely hard) and built communities, buildings, festivals, arts, families and more. Our country would be unrecognisable (and far poorer) without them.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots to think about here, and I can see that reading the Jhalak prize longlist is going to be pretty educational for me.
My sadness about this book was that so many of the stories were "as told to" the editor/author. It meant there wasn't an enormous range of distinct voices, as most of the stories were told in the same style and in the same slightly detached tone.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had heard about the Windrush scandal but didn't really understand it, so when I came across this book I saw it as a chance to educate myself and learn about the real story of Windrush. It's a must read for everyone and I can't recommend it enough.

[Pethron Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

I couldn't put it cown.It was well constructed and brought back memories of my aunt who was a part of windrush.Love it and will purchase the hard copy to add to my collection of favourite books.

[Between2books_]

Mother Country is a compilation of stories told by the Windrush generation, or children of the Windrush & explores the stories of 22 individuals.
Definitely highly recommend if you enjoyed ‘The Good Immigrant’ by Nikesh Shukla

[Austėja · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved how ordinary and extraordinary all the stories in this were. i found lots of parallels with other types of immigrant lives but provided such a good insight to the windrush generation and its own stories.

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for anyone living in the UK today.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating individual & interesting accounts of Windrush families, some pretty traumatic a as they travelled across to Britain, providing the workforce, to be treated so appallingly jn many cases.

[Rae]

Racism. Post-colonial immigration. Caribbean heritage. Personal stories. A great read.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very moving and powerful personal accounts.

[June Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful to read about different accounts, expectations and outcomes.

[✰matthew✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

each story represents a different person and their family, but many themes are echoed through each story.

this collection was put together nicely, and i especially liked the introduction at the start of each story.

some stories are definitely more emotionally charged than others, all of the different stories have been kept as authentic as they were told.

overall, a really well put together collection, told in a way that is easy to read.

[Yayane · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are so refreshing and unique, yet all echo to each other. So far this is quite an astonishing read. I was devouring it at first but now I'm savouring it and am really taking my time to soak up in each of these chapters.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Individually each story was interesting but it lack a coherent thread