Vicente was raised in a Galician community in Northwest London, but prefers to establish his own identity further south, in Stockwell, where he lives in a squat with Andy, Patrick and the Lizard. They are professional jugglers and eke out a living putting on performances of Harlequin and Pierrot. When not performing, they play poker using potato chips. Vicente also does odd jobs for an Irishman called Reddy. He takes Jane, a woman he has just met, on a date to his favourite Portuguese café, where they serve
galão
coffee and custard tarts, but the date doesn't go to plan, Vicente is somehow distracted. That is until, on his way to the local takeaway to stock up on potato chips, he comes across a pistol that has been discarded in a rubbish bin and decides to take it home. The band of jugglers use this pistol to carry out a hold-up at a nearby off-licence, which goes disastrously wrong. Three of the friends have little choice but to seek refuge from the police in Galicia, where Vicente has some land he inherited from his parents, but will he be able to adapt to life in his homeland? And what will happen if he returns to England only to find his place has been taken by another, his role on stage has been usurped?
The Clowns from Paradise
is a rich, multi-layered narrative that forces the reader to re-evaluate the characters and props we take for granted.