Homework A Memoir

Born in 1958, the only child of a dinner lady and a sheet-metal worker, Geoff Dyer grew up in a world shaped by memories of shortages and the Second World War. But far from being a story of hardship overcome, Homework is a celebration of the opportunities afforded by the post-war settlement.

It captures his time at primary school—discovering the tactile delights of Airfix, the combative seasons of conkers, and plagues of verrucas at the local swimming baths. Then, at eleven, comes the crux: the exam that decided the future of generations of British school kids, splitting them between secondary modern and grammar schools.

One of the lucky winners, Dyer goes to Cheltenham Grammar School to face the tribulations of teenage life—sport, gig-going, romantic fumblings, fights (well, getting punched in the face)—and other misadventures. It's also a place where he develops a love of literature (and beer and prog rock). At the threshold of university, Dyer gets his first intimation that a short geographical journey—just forty miles up the A40—might drastically change the trajectory of his life.

Recalling an eroded but strangely resilient England, Homework traces roots that extend into the deep foundations of class society. Dyer carries us back, with characteristic comic affection, to the joys and lingering questions of every childhood.

ISBN

9781837261987

Format

Hardback

Publisher

Canongate, (29 May 2025)

Number of Pages

288

Weight

486 grams

Language

English

Dimensions

240 x 159 x 30 mm

Categories:

Memoirs Social classes