Rafal's Saga

By Will Ashon and Michal Novosad

"What kind of story you want? Rough story or nice story?"

A collaboration between author Will Ashon and Michal Novosad,
 Rafal's Saga  presents a tale of homeless life in London: the difficulties, the despair, the endless problems, but also the humanity and humour and, most of all, the heartbreaking beauty of being alive.

As William Morris pointed out, the most grinding poverty is a trifling evil compared with the inequality of classes and this inequality of class is crystallised in the decisions we make when we see someone begging. Michal tells the story of the death of his friend, Rafal, and in doing so forces us to confront what it means if and when we calculate whether someone is worthy of receiving our small change.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rough Trade Books
• Release date: Jun 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781912722686

Will Ashon

WILL ASHON is the author of two recent works of non-fiction,  Strange Labyrinth, about Epping Forest, and  Chamber Music: About the Wu-Tang (In 36 Pieces), which focuses on the first album by New York rap group the Wu-Tang Clan (both published by Granta Books). He previously founded and ran the record label, Big Dada (Roots Manuva, Wiley, Kate Tempest), while at the same time, writing two novels, published by Faber & Faber. Chamber Music has been described as “charged and thrilling” (The Guardian) and “clever, provocative, ambitious” (Big Issue).

Book preview

I

What kind of story you want?

Rough story or nice story?

Look, there is two kind of story, you know.

You want drug story and alcohol story, or nice story?

You want truth? Okay.

II

I’m from Slovakia.

I grow up in small town

Very close to mountains.

When they split was 1989.

Oh yeah, I remember it.

People come into the streets

With the keys and candles.

And just waving with them

And make the noise.

And going,

Okay, Russian don’t turn up this time!

This time, this time, don’t turn up.

I wasn’t that old to act in

But I was strong enough to hold the key.

Then communism fell down.

In the communism you can’t

Get anything serious.

Like you can get the vinyl but

Tchaikovsky or something.

Probably no one going to dance for that!

Except for people who like Tchaikovsky!

I’m doing DJing that time.

I start very early, like fourteen,

and I do it until I came here, actually.

I like mixing. I like perfect set.

You know when DJ go

And have a look to another DJ?

You don’t just hear the music,