Best of British Black and Asian writers

We've picked some of the best stories, poetry and non-fiction books by black and Asian writers in Britain.

Click the titles below to see which libraries have them or reserve them online for a small charge – see our library fees and charges.

Fiction

'The Icarus girl' by Helen Oyeyemi
A novel of twins, doubles and ghosts, of a little girl growing up between cultures and colours. Lyrical, poetic and compelling.

'Bitter sweets' by Roopa Farooki
In 1950s Bengal, Henna Rub pulls off a brilliant marriage to a wealthy romantic Ricky Karim. On his wedding night Ricky discovers that his educated, sonnet-reading soul mate is in fact a lazy, illiterate, shopkeeper's daughter.

'Lovers in the age of indifference' by Guo, Xiaolu
Collection of stories about tender and surreal moments in the lives of lost souls and lovers, adrift between West and East.

'Map of the invisible world' by Tash Aw
At the orphanage Johan keeps a vigil over his little brother Adam, but they lose contact when they're placed in different adoptive homes. Then in summer 1964, post-colonial Indonesia slides gradually towards civil war.

'The importance of being a Bachelor' by Mike Gayle
The three Bachelor brothers show no signs of settling down, but they are forced to examine their priorities after their father is thrown out of the family home.

'The wonder' by Diana Evans
Haunting family mystery in 1950s Jamaica, the Blues parties and early carnivals of Ladbroke Grove, the flower stalls of modern-day Portobello Road, and the famous Russian dancer Vaslav Nijinsky.

'My revolutions' by Hari Kunzru
It's the day before Mike Frame's 50th birthday and his quiet provincial life is suddenly falling apart. His partner Miranda and step-daughter Sam know nothing about his past, lived under another name amid revolution.

'Goodnight, beautiful' by Dorothy Koomson
Nova Kumalisi would do anything for her closest friend, Mal Wacken, so she agrees to be the surrogate mother for him and his wife. Eight years later, Nova is bringing up their son alone, and she and Mal don't speak.

'Gypsy Masala' by Preethi Mair
A young Indian woman, raised in London to fulfil her parents' dreams of respectability, is stuck in a 9-to-5 job until she hears the irresistible beat of a drum and sets off in search of her own dreams – and disrupts her whole family.

Non-fiction books

'Staying power' by Peter Fryer
Definitive account of the history of black people in Britain from the Roman conquest and to the present day, and their influence on society and culture.

'Cyrille Regis' by Cyrille Regis
Compelling story of Cyrille's move from the French Caribbean to a racially divided West London in the 1960s and becoming a footballer for West Bromwich Albion.

'Red dust road' by Jackie Kay
Jackie Kay tells the story of her life in this book about belonging and beliefs, strangers and family, biology and destiny and what makes us who we are.

'Imaginary homelands' by Salman Rushdie
Essays covering a ten year period 1981 to 1991 looking at the politics of India and Pakistan, censorship, the Labour Party, Palestinian identity, contemporary film and late-twentieth century race, religion and politics.

'Changing my mind' by Zadie Smith
In what ways is Barack Obama like Eliza Doolittle? Can you be over-dressed for the Oscars? Essays on personal and cultural issues, great books and bad movies, family and philosophy, British comedians and Italian divas.

'The word and the bomb' by Hanif Kureishi
Following the Iraq war and its aftermath, plus the bombings in London, Kureishi writes about the great divide between the East and the West – the gulf between fundamentalist Islam and Western values.

'Black lions' by Rodney Hinds
History of black players in English football, examining the attitudes of the football establishment and talks to players who had to suffer abuse from visiting fans and players, and sometimes their own team.

'Black teacher' by Beryl Gilroy
Biography of a black teacher in Britain from the 1970s.

'Undefeated' by Marsha Hunt
When Marsha Hunt discovered a lump in her breast, she decided to treat her battle with the disease like a dangerous adventure.

'Made in Britain' by Steven D'Souza
We all need to be inspired. These interviews with role models from a different occupations demonstrates how young people from minority ethnic backgrounds can achieve success in all areas of society.

'Beyond belief' by VS Naipaul
Naipaul revisits Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, and Malaysia – the countries featured in his 1981 book 'Among the believers' – to survey the development of these Islamic states.

Poetry

'I have crossed an ocean' by Grace Nichols
Born and educated in Guyana, Grace Nichols moved to Britain in 1977. Her poetry has a gritty lyricism that addresses the transatlantic connections central to the Caribbean-British experience.

'Picasso, I want my face back ' by Grace Nichols
Art, landscape and memory are interwoven strands in the fabric of Grace Nichols' latest collection of poems.

'The fat black woman's poems' by Grace Nichols
Gives us images that stare us straight in the eye, images of joy, challenge, and accusation. It includes the fat black woman, who is brash, rejoices in herself, poses awkward questions to politicians, to a white world that turns its back.

'Lady in a boat' by Merle Collins
Caribbean poetry that resonant disquiet and a sequence that addresses memories of the death of the Grenadian revolution.

'The beautiful, collected poems' by Michelle Tea
Michelle Tea ran away to San Francisco's queer and literary scenes in the early 90s, finding a home on the stages of various open mic venues. Her poems are about unrequited love and languor, hopes and heartbreak, prostitution and destitution.

'Volume 1: New voices from a diverse culture'
Anthology of winning entries in The decibel Penguin Prize for new writers from African, Caribbean and Asian backgrounds. Concerns the clashes of generations, the problems of not fitting in or fitting in too well, of escape and confinement, and of first and last love.

'Clever backbone' by John Agard
Written by an author who has been subverting British poetry with his mischievous, satirical fables, this title plays havoc with biology and makes a monkey out of Darwinian evolution.

'The adoption papers' by Jackie Kay
This work tells the story of a black girl's adoption by a white Scottish couple. The story is told from three different viewpoints – the mother, the birth mother and the daughter.

'Darling: new and selected poems' by Jackie Kay
Brings together many favourite poems from Kay's four collections 'The adoption papers, 'Other lovers', 'Off colour' and 'Life mask', as well as featuring new work and previously uncollected poems, and some lively poetry for younger readers.

'Fiere' by Jackie Kay
Poems exploring what it means to have roots, specifically roots in different cultures – with old Scots and modern Scots alongside poems inspired by Ibo dialect, and poems inspired by African and European art.

'Selected poems' by Linton Kwesi Johnson
Poetry using Jamaican dialect to tackle British subjects from protests against police brutality to eulogies for departed friends and celebrations of urban life.