Review of ‘In the Ditch’ by Buchi Emecheta

A short, compelling, partly autobiographical novel by Nigerian writer Buchi Emecheta (1944 – 2017). Set in London council housing in the early 70s, the story follows a black single mother, Adah, who gives up her civil service job so she can look after her five children in a decaying tower block called, strangely, Pussy Cat Mansions. She builds friendships with the other women ‘in the ditch’, trapped in a cycle of poverty, motherhood, welfare benefits and prejudice. They will eventually be rehoused but although they want to swap their horrible damp flats for newer ones with modern conveniences, they are worried about losing the community they are part of.

The book dates from 1972, but the topics explored and the realism of the writing suggest to me that it could be published as a new book today with only a few minor changes. That is a depressing thought because not much seems to have changed in fifty years. I liked the writing style and characterisation. I noted that there were few references to Adah’s past, only some differences between Nigeria and England, with a mention of the Biafran War, and almost nothing about her husband who left her. I wonder if we are to infer that she is traumatised by what happened in her past and that she’s focusing on the present to get herself through the grind of daily life. The only element of the book I didn’t like was the ending, which seemed abrupt and made me wonder whether some pages were missing from my advance copy!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. It is now available to buy in Penguin Modern Classics, 2023.