Description

‘A sympathetic and perceptive account of a fine writer at a critical moment in our cultural life’ KEN LOACH

On 27 May 1958, A Taste of Honey opened in a small fringe theatre in London. Written by a nineteen-year-old bus driver’s daughter from Salford, the play exposed a deeply polarised society in Britain, sparked press and political outrage and transformed its young author into an unexpected star. Shelagh Delaney’s assertive female characters struck an immediate chord with working-class women who dreamed of more than just suburban housewifery, and her work and legacy would go on to inspire future generations of writers, musicians and artists.

This is the remarkable story of how a working-class teenager stormed theatreland, exploded old certainties about class, race, sex and taste, and blazed an incendiary new path in British culture.

‘A riveting book’ DAVID HARE

Publisher Review

Makes an unassailable case for [Delaney's] importance in British theatre history while showing how her posthumous reputation has been subtly slighted... splendid and illuminating -- Kate Kellaway * Observer * Selina Todd's biography of Shelagh Delaney, Tastes of Honey, is great -- Tracey Thorn * New Statesman * In this subtle, thoughtful book, Selina Todd sets out to do more than simply retell Delaney's rags-to-riches story... Instead Todd argues that Delaney offers a route to rethinking the ways in which women's lives in the mid-20th century are routinely written up, especially by feminists -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian * Shelagh Delaney keeps her mystery even from beyond the grave, but anyone who values what is best in British theatre and film will want to join Selina Todd as she digs deep into the brilliance of Delaney's work - and her character. It's a riveting book -- David Hare This is a sympathetic and perceptive account of a fine writer at a critical moment in our cultural life. Selina Todd's enthusiasm for her subject is infectious and she captures precisely the spirit of the times. A lovely and enjoyable book -- Ken Loach