The Terrible, by Yrsa Daley-Ward: Book Review

She may only be in her late 20s, but spoken word poet, model and social media sensation Yrsa Daley-Ward has already lived an incredible life. Taking her carefully honed poetic voice, Yrsa documents being brought up in England by a family with West Indian heritage. She explores her earlier sexual development and sexual exploration, her heavy drug use, her time as a sex worker in London, the tragedy of familial death, and the magic that comes with overcoming “terrible things”.

The memoir is told in brief, evocative vignettes, ripe with imagery and emotion. And while the free verse style doesn’t always seem appropriate or necessary for every memory that she wants to recall, it can also be used to devastating effect – especially as Yrsa documents her destructive reliance on drugs. The Terrible is raw and devastating at almost every turn.

The Terrible is out now, via Penguin.