Let's See What Happens: The Last Mayor of Bristol

Marvin Rees, the first Black mayor of a major European city, has written a brutally honest account of power, politics, race, and class. His eight-year tenure has taken the city through Brexit, Covid, the cost of living crisis, and the fall of the Colston statue, while dealing with racist abuse and personal threats. His rise to political leadership was anything but straightforward, growing up in a household where money was tight and opportunity lacking. He first found purpose in the boxing ring, then joined an international development agency before becoming a broadcast journalist at the BBC. However, politics beckoned and he was selected as the Labour Party candidate for Bristol's first mayoral election in 2012. Let's See What Happens chronicles his fall and rise to political success, helping his home city grow to national and international prominence.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 22 August 2024
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

David Olusoga, author of Black and British, presents a brutally honest account of power, politics, race, and class in his book, Let's See What Happens. Marvin Rees, the first Black African mayor of a major European city, was elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2021. His eight-year tenure has seen Bristol navigate Brexit, Covid, the cost of living crisis, and the fall of the Colston statue. Despite facing racist abuse and personal threats, Rees has managed to keep the city together. His rise to political leadership was not straightforward, as he grew up in a household with limited resources. He found purpose in the boxing ring and later pursued a career in journalism. However, politics called, and he was selected as the Labour Party candidate for Bristol's first mayoral election in 2012. Although he lost, the experience taught him valuable lessons about life. Let's See What Happens chronicles Reess's fall and rise to political success, highlighting the challenges and opportunities he faced as a man and as mayor. It also explores the impact of his leadership on his home city, which has grown to national and international prominence. Reess's book is thoughtful, straight-talking, and passionate, offering insights into the complexities of power and politics.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 243 x 163 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781035009169