Princess & The Hustler (2019) is author and playwright Chinonyerem Odimba's play-turned-novel, which tells the story of a young girl named Princess, who hatches a plan to win the Weston-Super-Mare Beauty Contest sometime in 1963 Bristol, England. However, Princess faces a number of challenges in her life. For one, her mother works a number of jobs and often can't be there to help and support her daughter. Meanwhile, her brother (a budding photographer) wants nothing to do with her and refuses to take her photo to help her prepare for the competition. Finally, Princess must contend with The Hustler, the burgeoning Black British Civil Rights movement, and discover her black identity.
Odimba is known for writing stories about marginalized communities. In a review of the play form of this story, The Guardian wrote a glowing review of the novel. They said that Princess & The Hustler is "A beautifully crafted play about a family threatened by racial tensions during the 1960s Bristol bus boycott." Other reviewers cited the authenticity of Odimba's elegant prose, its rich characters, and its relatable and compelling themes.
