Pig Iron

By Benjamin Myers,

Book cover of Pig Iron

Book description

WINNER OF THE GORDON BURN PRIZE An unflinching portrait of contemporary Traveller culture by the award-winning author of The Gallows Pole John-John wants to escape his past. But the legacy of brutality left by his boxer father, King of the Gypsies, Mac Wisdom, overshadows his life. His new job as…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Pig Iron as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This brutal, beautiful book with a powerful, authentic northern voice captured my attention. Set in County Durham, the story follows young Traveller John-John after he is released from a young offender’s institution for a violent crime and tries to turn his life around. Despite his good intentions, he is soon caught up in a fight with local drug dealers. 

I loved this book because it took an unflinching look at a community not often depicted in contemporary fiction and featured a complex, conflicted character (who loves dogs) who struggles to escape his past. 

The book is by an author I…

From Amy's list on authors from North East England.

Want books like Pig Iron?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 43 books like Pig Iron.

Browse books like Pig Iron

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in boxing, polyamory, and London?

Boxing 43 books
Polyamory 32 books
London 860 books