The Fat Lady Sings
'A strong and humane work of fiction' – Jackie Kay
'This is a novel of daring – enjoyable, surprising and original' – Bernardine Evaristo
'A joy' – Pride
'Unflinchingly told . . . harrowing but also shockingly funny' – Big Issue
'That is the glory of being a mental patient. Nothing is impossible.'
It is the 1990s, and Gloria is living in a London psychiatric ward. She is unapologetically loud, audacious and eternally on the brink of bursting into song. After several months of uninterrupted routine, she is joined by another young black woman – Merle – who is full of silences and fear.
Unable to confide in their doctors, they agree to journal their pasts. Whispered into tape recorders and scrawled ferociously at night, the remarkable stories of their lives are revealed.
In this tender, deeply-moving depiction of mental health, Roy creates a striking portrait of two women finding strength in their shared vulnerability, as they navigate a system that fails to protect them. Life-affirming and fearlessly hopeful, this is an unforgettable story.
Jacqueline Roy is a writer of fiction for adults and children. She was born in London and is of dual heritage; her mother was English and her father was a Jamaican sculptor, painter and novelist. Before becoming a writer, she worked in shops, selling everything from bacon to books, but eventually she did a degree in English as a mature student. This led to a career as a university lecturer, specialising in decolonial literatures and creative writing. Her fiction focuses primarily on the ways that those who are marginalised find a voice and their strategies for fighting back.