The Wrong Boy

TheDewsburyDesperadoesareontheirwaytoPontefractforagigattheAlliedButchers'andArchitects'Club.Thegirlwiththechestnuteyesisonherwaytosomewhere.AndRaymondisheadingforGulagGrimshy.RaymondMarksisanormalboy,fromanormalfamily,inanormalnortherntown.Hisdadlefthomeafterfallinginlovewithafive-stringbanjo;hisfun-hatinggrandmabelievessheshouldhavemarriedJean-PaulSame:'Icouldneverreadhisbooks,buty'couldtellfromhispicture,therewasnothingfrivolousaboutJohn-PaulSartre.'FeloniousUncleJasonandAppallingAuntyPaulaarelustingafterthesatellitedish;frogsareflattenedonFailsworthBoulevard;andSickeningSonia'sbeingsickinthemajesticcathedralofwords.RaymondMarksisanormalboy,fromanormalfamily,inanormalnortherntown.Until,onthebanksoftheRochdaleCanal,theFlytrappingcrazebeginsand,forRaymondandhismam,nothingiseverquitesonormalagain.InRaymond,prize-winningandinternationallyacclaimedplaywrightWillyRussellhascreatedanunforgettablecharactertorivalhisShirleyValentineandeducatedRita.TheWrongBoyishisextraordinaryfirstnovel.