Black Car Burning by Helen Mort

Black Car Burning

Helen Mort

In this exquisite evocative paean to the city of Sheffield and the Peak District, the rugged landscape is given its own lyrical voice in a poetic metaphor for the steely grit of the rock climbing community. Juxtaposing the underpinning of common purpose and mutual support of this climbing fellowship is the betrayal of community trust as shown in the Hillsborough Stadium tragedy, which overshadows the narrative.

Extract
… a name that seemed to smoulder, something acrid and tense about it. It made her think of sudden death, a car wrapped around a tree, or three men standing back with cans of petrol while the windows and doors went up in flames.
Parallels
  • Climbers by M John Harrison
  • The Reservoir Tapes by Jon McGregor