Marlboro Man

by M.G. Sanchez

Alex Pereira – former ‘Winston-boy’ and gayumbero – left Gibraltar in 1998 to escape his unsavoury criminal past. Twenty-one years later, he is back on the Rock – strapped for cash and stranded in an Uppertown bedsit, with no company save for his fading memories.

In MARLBORO MAN, M. G. Sanchez revisits the Gibraltar of the late eighties and early nineties, bringing back to life a chaotic era marked by social unrest and large-scale smuggling.

"Sanchez is one of the most underrated novelists writing in English. He shows us that a micro-territory such as Gibraltar can produce a writer with as much to say about colonial history, mental health issues and the often destructive nature of social convention as any of his peers in larger spaces."
Alastair Niven, Former President, English PEN; Booker Prize judge, 1994 and 2014.

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2022

About the author

M. G. Sanchez is a Gibraltarian writer based in the UK. He studied at the University of Leeds, where he obtained BA, MA and PhD degrees in English Literature. He is the author of fourteen Gibraltar-themed books, among them novels, journals, memoirs, historical studies and collections of short stories. His writing focuses on Gibraltarian identity politics and on the geopolitical challenges facing the Rock and its inhabitants. He is also interested in borders, national stereotypes and colonial/post-colonial discourses of ‘otherness’. He has spoken about matters of Gibraltarian identity at the University of Barcelona, the University of Salamanca, the University of Turin, the University of Strasbourg, the University of Basel, the University of Lisbon, King’s College, London and other European universities. More information about his writing can be found at https://www.mgsanchez.net/.
 

Reviews

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this as a. I'm Llanta, b. I lived through the Winston boys era and the riots (which was a horrible scary time) and c. I'm a bookworm. How amazing to be transported back to then, I could actually feel and smell the 80s and 90s. I live in the upper town so regularly walk round the streets mentioned (many of which are still the same). It was wonderful to see it from a Winston boys perspective and I loved how the story evolved and the difficulties faced with the gibraltarian accent, family and personal issues. This book has blown me away and will stay with me for a long long time. Thank you.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a Gibraltarian, the title and the cover photo immediately evoke a dark time in Gibraltar’s recent history. A dark time that must be faced and understood warts and all because by doing so, a stronger Gibraltar emerges into the light and brings us to where we are now. This was a societal tipping point in our recent history and we emerged scarred but stronger, a requirement in every society’s evolution. But here’s the thing, the story is far greater than a simple story about smuggling in Gibraltar in the 90’s it paints a rich tapestry of life here then and more importantly tells the story that the only consistent thing in life is that life is inconsistent. I daren’t say anything else because I don’t want to give out spoilers. What I would say is that whilst this is a novel, it is so close to historical fact and provides such a powerful message that it ought to be compulsory reading in schools in Gibraltar [at the appropriate level]. Brilliant!

[meghan victory · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this in one sitting, actually really enjoyed it!!

[yvette potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

You made me laugh and cry i absolutely loved your book possibly because as a llanita of your generation I so relate. I really didnt buy it because i hated the Winston boys and your book cover put me off but I thought that was not really right was it? In fact i am really happy I downloaded it
You transported me to the riots when i happened to be in UK but it was definitely something i well remember
The names of the people made me laugh so much but my favourite quote as the book nerd i am is a phrase that really made me highlight it. “Wearing my ignorance as a badge” is something many ppl in Gib seem to be proud of and it definitely is not something to ge proud of, thank you for highlighting that absolute truth of our culture and thank you for writing this very real book ❤️.