Alan Johnson's 2013 memoir, This Boy, was the 2014 Winner of the Orwell Prize and 2014 Winner of the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize.

As many have pointed out, Alan's mother Lily and his sister Linda are the heroes of the story.

Lily works multiple jobs to keep her family together, even though her health requires her to be in and out of hospital.

Linda ensures that, at the age of 16, the state entrusts 13 year old Alan's care to her after Lily dies.

Alan Johnson - after a variety of jobs - became the MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle from 1997 to 2017.