England’s ‘second city’ has much to offer in terms of culture, history and literature. Books set in Birmingham explore the multicultural city and the people who inhabit it over history. Home to the famous Peaky Blinders, there are novels about gangs, but also about the everyday people of the city. Below we explore some of the best books set in Birmingham.
Astonishing Splashes of Colour by Clare Morrall
This extraordinary book explores the life of Kitty who has Synaesthesia, and experiences feelings as different colours. Every day she waits at the school gates for her son Henry and is haunted by her child that ‘never was’. As children around her become emblems of hope and grief, she begins to understand the reasons for her unstable sense of self, and the family mysteries that have plagued her family for years. A child-like woman, the exploration of mental health and grief in the book is powerful, and makes it a memorable read
The Rotters’ Club by Jonathan Coe
Set in Birmingham in the 1970s and inspired by the author’s time at King Edwards School in Edgbaston, the novel follows three teenage friends growing up surrounded by punk rock, girls, political strikes and IRA bombings. A deep dive into everyday life in Britain, the novel paints a canvas of recent history in Britain and the effects events had on young people. The novel also has one of the longest sentences in literature at 13,995 words.
The novel inspired a television series and a punk band as well as two sequels. A powerful book that perfectly highlights a confusing time in British history, the perspective of the teenagers makes it an ideal read for young people wanting to understand more about the country’s past.
The Trick to Time by Kit de Waal
Another book set in Birmingham in the 1970s is The Trick to Time which tells the story of Irish protagonist Mona, who has moved to Birmingham as a young woman. On her first night out in the city, she meets Irishman William and they embark on a passionate affair and a whirlwind marriage before a tragedy tears them apart. Looking back on her life some 40 years later, Mona reflects on the past and pieces together the memories of William whilst learning to love again.
A classic romance drama, the setting of Birmingham from the perspective of someone who doesn’t feel it is her ‘home’ is an interesting dynamic and creates a sense of homesickness within the book- both for Ireland and for a person.
What Was Lost by Catherine O’Flynn
In 1984, 10-year-old Kate spends her time in Green Oaks Shopping Centre pretending to be a private detective. Then, one day, she disappears while on a visit to a boarding school with her shopkeeper friend, Adrian. In 2003, the shopping centre has grown in size but signs of the missing girl keep appearing. The story follows the quest to find out what happened to Kate 20 years after her disappearance. A security guard and a shop worker try to find out the truth about her vanishing in an attempt to bring some life to their existences. The theme of loss runs through the novel and the mystery element is a real page-turner.
The Gangs of Birmingham by Philip Gooderson
This non-fiction book explores the real history of Birmingham’s violent youth gangs of the 19th and 20th century from The Sloggers to the Peaky Blinders. Each area of Birmingham was home to a different gang, and the book explores each one and the outcomes of different gang members using court reports and newspaper clippings.
A must-read for anyone interested in local history and, of course, the television show.