The books that turned a life around

While serving time in prison, Alex Wheatle took to reading. In this clip, he explains how it helped him feel less alone.

The author Alex Wheatle grew up in a children’s home and went to prison after taking part in the Brixton riots in 1981. While serving his sentence, a cellmate advised Wheatle to start reading books.

“James Baldwin, Richard Wright, and the poetry of Langston Hughes – that informed me greatly,” says Wheatle in this clip from BBC Culture’s Textual Healing event at the 2019 Hay Festival. “So when I left I came out a much more educated man than I was when I was first sentenced.”

His first book, Brixton Rock, was published in 1999. In the clip, Wheatle explains how reading affirmed his belief in humanity – and helped him see that he wasn’t alone.

Press the play button above to watch the video.

Textual Healing: Can Reading Change Lives? airs on BBC World News at 17:30 GMT and 22:30 GMT on Saturday 13 July 2019; at 04:30 GMT on Sunday 14 July; at 08:00 GMT on Tuesday 16 July 2019 and at 09:30 GMT on Thursday 18 July. Check the schedule for more details.

Love books? Join Textual Healing on Facebook, a community for literature fanatics all over the world.

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