Renowned screenwriter and producer Jimmy McGovern will officially launch Tony Doherty’s This Man’s Wee Boy in Derry next week.
McGovern is probably best known as the creator of the television series Cracker, as well as The Lakes, The Street, Accused and most recently Reg.The event is open to the public.
This Man’s Wee Boy is a uniquely-crafted memoir of the author's early childhood (1967–1972), the third oldest in a working-class Catholic family from the Brandywell in Derry.
Written with the authentic voice of a child, this snapshot of his young life unfolds in a series of stories evoking the innocence of childhood, family dynamic and tensions, street friendships and characters, the onset of civil strife, and a family protecting itself from conflict, with CS gas coming in through the door and tracer bullets flying past the windows..
Described as 'a treasure', it draws the reader into a child's world, his innocent view of the harsh reality of life and the horrifying events unfolding around him. It has bags of humour and paints a picture of a lost world of children running wild in play, unsupervised by or worried over by adults. The book is also very moving, to the point of provoking tears at the end.
The official launch will take place at Long Tower Primary School at 7.00pm on Thursday, 25 August.
Author Tony Doherty will also be signing copies of This Man’s Wee Boy at Eason, Foyleside Shopping Centre at 2.00pm on Saturday, 27 August.
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