When George Alagiah was dropped off at a Hampshire boarding school as a child back in 1967 he was confronted with an extreme version of the private struggle faced by all immigrants
- the battle to leave the past behind & fit into a new culture. His arrival in Britain coincided with the unhappy intrusion of race into politics. A key part of the ensuing fight against racism was the concept of multiculturalism. But in a closely argued & forthright chapter Alagiah suggests that far from improving the prospects for some immigrants multiculturalism may be an impediment to integration. All too often these are the poor & isolated communities who most need the help of the state to break out of what is fast becoming a version of ghetto life. Above all this book is a tender & evocative portrayal of the immigrant experience. Alagiah brings colour & life to a subject that is too often reduced to screaming tabloid headlines & sheds light on the controversial question of British identity.