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Dispossession

Dispossession - that sense of deprivation and dislodgement is a highly topical issue worldwide that three writers, Nick Barlay, Douglas Cowie and Ogaga Ifowodo all explore on a smaller but equally meaningful scale. Nick Barlay looks at the way that our beliefs define ourselves, Douglas Cowie examines the nature of exile and longing in a story of mystery and intrigue that merely hints at the protagonists past and Ogaga Ifowodo explores the meaning and power of words in confinement.

 

Nick Barlay is an established novelist and in his short story 'Stu Zsibinsky's Lost Cause' he continues with some of his favourite themes: contemporary culture, identity, the media and politics. This witty and engaging short story explores one mans search for his true self and his true love in a complex and ever-shifting world.

 

The idea of borders is central to Douglas Cowie's fascinating short story, 'The White of Her Arms' which recounts the tale of a dispossessed Mexican who has left behind his children in extraordinary circumstances. Class, race and poverty combine in a powerful and sombre piece of writing.

 

Ogaga Ifowodo's non-fiction piece on imprisonment also contains an air of mystery. We never discover why the writer is imprisoned but he uses his time in prison to explore the words and ideas of other political prisoners. It is his obsession with words that is at the very heart of the short story.

 

 

Nick Barlay

Nick Barlay Nick Barlay is the author of three acclaimed novels, Curvy Lovebox (20/20, 1997), Crumple Zone (Hodder & Stoughton, 2000) and Hooky Gear, (Hodder & Stoughton, 2001) that map out the underbelly of contemporary London. He has written award-winning radio plays, works as a freelance journalist and is currently writing his next novel. He was born in London to Hungarian refugee parents.

Photograph: Nick Barlay

 

Ogaga Ifowodo

Ogaga Ifowodo, lawyer and activist, has published three volumes of poetry: Homeland and Other Poems, Madiba and The Oil Lamp. He is a fellow of the Iowa Writing Programme and recipient of the PEN USA Barbara Goldsmith Freedom-to-Write Award. He holds an MFA from Cornell University where he is currently pursuing a PhD.

Photograph: Detlev Ludwig

 

Douglas Cowie

Douglas Cowie was born in Elmhurst, Illinois and lives in North London. He is the author of a novel, Owen Noone and the Marauder (Canongate).

Photograph: Douglas Cowie

 

Illustration © Maurizio Marmorato
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Link to writing

Stu Zsibinsky's Lost Cause * Stu Zsibinsky's Lost Cause

The White of Her Arms * The White of Her Arms

Word Games in Prison * Word Games in Prison


Glossary for 'Stu Zsibinsky's Lost Cause' * Glossary for 'Stu Zsibinsky's Lost Cause'

Glossary for 'Word Games in Prison' * Glossary for 'Word Games in Prison'

Link to teachers notes

Teachers' notes for Dispossession * Teachers' notes for Dispossession

Link to readers notes

Readers' notes Dispossession * Readers' notes Dispossession

Link to author interviews

Interview Nick Barlay * Interview Nick Barlay

 

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