An electrifying, singular debut novel about a minimally verbal woman in working class London who falls in with a volatile man, leading to an act of violence that upends her lifeIt’s 1999, and Gloria has finished school for good. She spends her days wandering the streets and parks, watching the boys play football and the girls share cigarettes, and making sure she gets back before Mum is home, so she don’t worry about Gloria too much. She tries to entertain herself ...

An electrifying, singular debut novel about a minimally verbal woman in working class London who falls in with a volatile man, leading to an act of violence that upends her lifeIt’s 1999, and Gloria has finished school for good. She spends her days wandering the streets and parks, watching the boys play football and the girls share cigarettes, and making sure she gets back before Mum is home, so she don’t worry about Gloria too much. She tries to entertain herself ...

Gloria has a learning disability. She's nineteen, and there's nothing to do except wander the local parks, look for friendship and keep out of trouble - or go round Jack's. Jack needs Gloria's company, but he's unpredictable and angry at the world. After an act of violence, their friendship has to end. Now Gloria's on her own. But when she hears Jack's out of prison, her whole world is turned upside-down. Heart-breaking and beautiful, Gloria Don't Speak is an insightful portrait of a woman...