The Inalienable Right
A Tommy Wildeblood novel
Published on 13. March 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
418 pages
978-1-78563-405-5 (ISBN)
Description
In the age of AIDS and Section 28: a secret that could change political history
It is 1987, and Tommy Wildeblood has put his days as a Piccadilly Circus rent boy long behind him. Slightly to his own surprise, he is now a rookie teacher at a South London comprehensive.
But when Margaret Thatcher's government launches a chilling attack on the 'promotion' of homosexuality in a new law known as Section 28, Tommy can't stay silent - especially when he realises he may have information about one of Thatcher's key lieutenants that could change the political situation completely.
Forming an uneasy alliance with a sharp-elbowed tabloid journalist, and delving deep into his past on the 'Dilly', he puts everything on the line - both for himself and his old friends - in a desperate bid to expose the truth.
With his trademark blend of historical research and 'what if' fiction, Adam Macqueen captures the spirit of a frightening age in another spellbinding case that lifts the lid on the Eighties political establishment's murkiest secrets.
It is 1987, and Tommy Wildeblood has put his days as a Piccadilly Circus rent boy long behind him. Slightly to his own surprise, he is now a rookie teacher at a South London comprehensive.
But when Margaret Thatcher's government launches a chilling attack on the 'promotion' of homosexuality in a new law known as Section 28, Tommy can't stay silent - especially when he realises he may have information about one of Thatcher's key lieutenants that could change the political situation completely.
Forming an uneasy alliance with a sharp-elbowed tabloid journalist, and delving deep into his past on the 'Dilly', he puts everything on the line - both for himself and his old friends - in a desperate bid to expose the truth.
With his trademark blend of historical research and 'what if' fiction, Adam Macqueen captures the spirit of a frightening age in another spellbinding case that lifts the lid on the Eighties political establishment's murkiest secrets.
Reviews / Votes
'Adam Macqueen confidently combines a might-have-been version of history in which Section 28 brings down Thatcher, rather than the later poll tax, with an It's a Sin-style evocation of the era' 'The third in Adam Macqueen's highly readable series of Tommy Wildeblood novels succeeds as a study of gay life in the 80s and as a page-turning thriller. The Inalienable Right starts slowly, but builds to a memorably stirring finale' -- The Observer 'The author of the impressive Tommy Wildeblood novels takes his protagonist to 1987 and Section 28. A good read' -- The Critic 'The protagonist of the series is a former rent boy, and Adam Macqueen's research is peerless, so these books are an intriguing combination of horny and historically accurate' -- Helen Lewis, The Bluestocking 'The kind of book I wish I'd written' -- Jonathan Harvey 'Wildeblood is a thoroughly likeable hero' * Mail on Sunday * 'A riveting thriller about hypocrisy, politics and child sex abuse. I love the mosaic of fiction and fact' -- Katharine QuarmbyMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Eye Books
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
318 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78563-405-5 (9781785634055)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
02/2025
Lightning
€8.39
Available for download
Person
Adam Macqueen is a senior journalist on Private Eye and co-presents its podcast, Page 94. He is the author of three counterfactual political thrillers featuring his ex-rent boy hero Tommy Wildeblood. His non-fiction books include the bestselling history of the magazine, and political miscellanies The Prime Minister's Ironing Board and The Lies of the Land: An Honest History of Political Deceit. He has also been on the editorial team of Popbitch and The Big Issue. He lives on the South Coast with his husband, artist Michael Tierney.