Something Dark tells the true story of Lemn Sissay who as a baby was given up by his Ethiopian mother in the 1960s. He was renamed Norman Greenwood and nicknamed Chalky White throughout his turbulent childhood in care, only to find out his real name at the age of 18. No longer the possession of the social services, he left the brutal suburbs of Lancashire for the bright lights of Manchester where he became a celebrated performance poet. Aged 21 Lemn left for Gambia in search of his mother and the truth about his father.

An autobiographical performance about Sissays upbringing in a racist care system.

About the Author
Lemn Sissay Mbe is associate artist at Southbank Centre, patron of The Letterbox Club and The Reader Organisation, ambassador for The Children's Reading Fund, trustee of Forward Arts Foundation and inaugural trustee of World Book Night and an honorary doctor of Letters.


Book Information
ISBN 9781786822291
Author Lemn Sissay
Format Paperback
Page Count 56
Imprint Oberon Books Ltd
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 66g