Underdogs by Louise Powell review – a powerful debut with plenty of northern soul

In a country still reeling from industrial decline and economic hardship, a new generation of writers is shedding light on the overlooked stories of Britain’s working-class communities. Louise Powell’s powerful debut novel, Underdogs, brings to life the struggles faced by Easington Colliery and its surrounding villages in east Durham – not as relics of a bygone era, but as a present-day reality.

Powell sets her story in the early 1990s, when Tony Blair’s promise of regeneration investment seemed to offer hope for communities like Easington. However, this was a false dawn. Today, Easington boasts one of the whitest demographics in the country and has been ravaged by government cuts, including the 2025 disability allowance cuts that have left many struggling.

Underdogs is more than just a powerful portrayal of working-class life; it’s also a scathing critique of Britain’s distorted narrative. By focusing on characters like George Wheatley and his father Reg, Powell challenges the myth that this England – with its pigeon lofts, social clubs, and meat raffles – is somehow “over” or irrelevant.

The novel shows a world where the industrial heritage of north-east England still lingers, where memories of Orgreave and other struggles are etched into community life. Powell’s writing is infused with a deep understanding of this world, from its language to its culture, making her novel compelling because of its authenticity.

Underdogs raises important questions about literature’s role in reflecting society. Why have writers from the north-east been overlooked by publishers for so long? What does it say about our literary landscape that we’ve only recently started to recognize the value of these untold stories?

Powell’s achievement is a testament not just to her writing, but also to the changing times in which we live. As our politics and society continue to shift, it’s more crucial than ever that we listen to the voices of those who have been marginalized or ignored. Underdogs may be set in the past, but its themes – of community, resilience, and resistance – are as relevant today as they were then.

The story highlights a world where poverty persists in Britain, with “scores of people on the breadline” making ends meet by racing greyhounds for bookmakers. Yet, despite these hardships, Underdogs offers a message of hope rooted in family alliances and quiet heroism.

As we read about George and Reg’s struggles to survive, it’s hard not to think about our own times. The parallels between Powell’s story and our current reality are striking – from poverty in rural areas to the ongoing effects of government cuts.

Underdogs is a powerful reminder that literature can be a catalyst for change if only we listen to its stories. By shining a light on Britain’s working-class communities, Powell shows us there’s still much work to be done – and that the most important voices in this conversation are often the ones we least expect.

In an era where regeneration efforts seem to have failed many communities, Underdogs offers a stark warning: we can’t just talk about change without actually doing it. By exploring life in Easington Colliery and its surrounding villages, Powell challenges us to think differently – to look beyond surface-level narratives of decline and recovery.

As the novel comes to a close, William Joyce’s infamous remark that “the people of Easington will be eating greyhounds, not raising them” seems particularly apt. But in Underdogs, we see a different story unfold: one where love, loyalty, and community triumph over adversity – even in the darkest of times.

Powell’s novel is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and a powerful reminder that there are still so many untold stories waiting to be told. As it arrives on our literary scene, let’s not forget the England it portrays – an England that’s often overlooked, but always worth fighting for.