In Loco Parentis

SMOKE - 'Grim, but really good.' Ian Rankin DIRTY OLD TOWN - 'A rare talent.' Allan Guthrie IN LOCO PARENTIS - 'In Local Parentis is terrific, start to finish.' Charlie Stella IN LOCO PARENTIS is the debut novel of the prize-winning author of the critically acclaimed Dirty Old Town (And Other Stories). Joe Campion is the kind of teacher that any child would want for their class. He's also the kind of teacher that lots of mothers want to have. And some of them do. When he becomes aware of the neglect and abuse suffered by a pupil in his care and witnesses an explosion of rage from the music teacher in the school, he decides the systems in place to deal with such instances aren't fit for purpose. His impulsive nature, dedication to his pupils and his love of women lead him into a chain of events that would cause even the most consummate professional to unravel. ‘I consider Bird to be an heir to a British literary tradition: the works of Alan Sillitoe, John Braine, and others from the late 1950s and early '60s…[featuring] young anti-heroes who clash with staid society.’ Mets6986 'In Loco Parentis is a rare and devastating book.' Chris Rhatigan 'Beautiful, painful and excruciatingly brilliant writing.' McDroll 'Mr Bird is a master. [He] leads you, heart in mouth, all the way to the end.' Nicola Rain Jordan 'The real deal.' Les Edgerton 'A fantastic writer.' Donald Ray Pollock 'A dark near-masterpiece.' James Mowry 'Nigel's first-person narrator has personality and verve, a unique voice that sets the writing head and shoulders above and apart.' Elaine Ash