Sarah Jones reviews Walthamstow author and playwright Bren Gosling’s debut novel which tells the story of a “tender and complex” romance between Almir, a former boy soldier now working as a street sweeper, and Roland, a Jamaican man grieving his late mother
It’s a rare pleasure to open a debut novel and find your own borough quietly cast as a living, breathing character.
Yet, it feels entirely fitting for Wilcumestowe – recorded in 1075 as “the welcome place” – a town with a centuries-old tradition of embracing strangers and those in need.
Street Sweeper by Bren Gosling, a former member of the Forest Writers’ Group, is at its heart a love story that bridges borders, cultures, and a generational divide.
Though darkly difficult and brutal in places, it gently celebrates Walthamstow’s historic spirit of sanctuary, with a warm, transformative LGBT+ romance.
Set in 2002 against the backdrop of the Golden Jubilee, the novel’s sense of place is remarkably vivid – a world within worlds.
The glamorous Orford Road, bedecked in festive bunting, sits just minutes away from the unapologetically raw High Street.
More than just a portrait of a neighbourhood, this is a masterful examination of beautifully realized characters making sense of a world they didn’t ask for and don’t fit into.
The narrative feels profound, remaining grounded without veering into sentimentality or sensationalism.
Gosling is a master at depicting emotional isolation. Much like his recent play, Invisible Me, his fragile characters feel powerfully authentic and richly drawn.
While Street Sweeper can be a challenging read – with casual racism and homophobia serving as persistent motifs – the exploration of love remains measured, and never graphic or gratuitous.
We first meet Almir, a 21-year-old, deeply-traumatised former Kosovan boy soldier. Barely subsisting with the help of voluntary support groups, he is plagued by horrific flashbacks of the Balkan conflict, he is nevertheless determined to build a good, independent life.
For now, home is a shabby bedsit in the market, and his days are spent sweeping the streets of the upmarket Village where he becomes captivated by 39-year-old Roland, a gay man of Jamaican heritage who has recently moved to the Village.
Separated from his family and grieving the loss of his Pentecostal mother, Roland is searching for a fresh start to live openly. He relocates from Brixton, rents a stunning flat above The Old Village Bakery, and acclimatises by shooting hoops at the local basketball court.
Desperately shy, Almir watches Roland from afar – until the terrifying, triggering roar of the infernal neighbourhood helicopters cause him to collapse unconscious. The relationship that sparks from this moment forms the emotional core of the book: Can their connection withstand the immense weight of their pasts?
Meticulously researched, the book seamlessly interweaves Almir’s harrowing wartime flashbacks – of lost limbs, red snow and severe PTSD – with a tender, complex romance. Thoughtfully paced, this poignant debut truly offers something for everyone – whomever you love and wherever you live.
Bren Gosling is a writer and playwright whose play Invisible Me was recently performed at Southwark Playhouse, Borough.
He will be speaking about Street Sweeper at Waterstones Walthamstow at 7pm on Friday 3rd July.
Tickets are free, but please contact a bookseller in store, by phone, or by emailing [email protected] to book your place
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