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'A window into a time of raw energy and rough edges, Deb Price paints a vivid picture of life in the squats of South London. By turns amusing and alarming, but always engaging, we accompany a teenager as she navigates her way to womanhood in a sub-culture on the margins.' - Allie Rogers, author of Little Gold and Tale of a Tooth
A coming-of-age memoir about a young woman living in squats in London in the late 70s during the emerging counterculture scene.
Set in South London (Crystal Palace), Deborah mingled with some of the biggest names to emerge from the scene. She booked The Damned's first show, served pints to Johnny Rotten, and attended a backyard gig from King Kurt.
Squat life was sex, drugs and punk rock but it wasn't all fun and games. The Peanut Factory shows Deborah navigating a male-dominated scene, moving every few months and living with drug dealers, sex workers, people on the run, and working-class kids like her.
Despite the chaos, the squatters were a family. They were kids creating their own rules. Making art. Living life on the fly. The Peanut Factory is an ode to the youthful rebellion of the 1970s and to London itself.
About the author
I was born and bred in South London and moved to Brighton in 1986. I have a BA and MA (Film Studies) from the Open University and also taught children's literature there. I have written and co-written six books on early years, mainly focusing on equalities, LGBT issues, leadership and grief and loss in children's lives. The Peanut Factory is my debut memoir. I now live happily by the sea with my partner, where I write, swim and travel.
