Mary Gibson

'Happiness had never been something she'd looked for. A quiet day with no insults or wallops, that was the best she could imagine.' Set in 1920s London, this is the inspiring story of Kate Goss's struggle against poverty, hunger and cruel family secrets. Her mother died in a fall, her father has vanished without trace, and now her aunt and cousins treat her viciously. In a freezing, vermin-infested garret, factory girl Kate has only her own brave spirit and dreams of finding her father to keep her going. She has barely enough money to feed herself, or to pay the rent. The factory where she works begins to lay off people and it isn't long before she has fallen into the hands of the violent local money-lender. That is until an unexpected opportunity comes her way – a job cleaning a most unusual bookshop, where anyone, from factory workers to dockers, can learn to read and then buy books cheaply. A new world opens up, but with it come new dangers, too. Based on the true story of the Bermondsey Bookshop, this is the most inspiring and gripping novel Mary Gibson has yet written.

A heart-wrenching saga of love and loss in 1920s London

The Bermondsey Bookshop

The captivating bestseller about a factory girl in Bermondsey during World War 1. Britain, 1911. Strikes and riots erupt countrywide as the shadow of the Great War looms over Europe. But in one small corner of London, factory girl Nellie Clark's wages are all that keep her younger brothers and sister from starvation. And, as the young women of Pearce Duff's custard factory watch their menfolk prepare to march off to war, Nellie is forced to make a difficult choice: between the family who depend upon her, and the man she loves... Following Nellie and her struggle through the hardship of life in First World War London, Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts is an outstandingly moving novel full of tenderness and drama. PRAISE FOR CUSTARD TARTS AND BROKEN HEARTS: 'The twists and turns of the friendship, love and family keep you gripped throughout. The characters are engaging and soon feel like old friends' Joanna, Amazon reviewer. 'Well written and beautifully told story of the hardships and heartache of early 1900's Britain. Couldn't put it down and had tears rolling down my face as I became entwined with the wonderful "cuckoo" family wanting them to survive' Dell, Amazon reviewer. 'This is a wonderful read. It has everything a good story should have, it made me laugh, smile and weep in parts. So well written that the characters come to life' Mafanwy, Amazon reviewer. 'Brilliant book – well written, well researched, compelling read' Squirrel 59, Amazon reviewer. 'An amazing and at times heart-rending story about the struggles of young women before and during the war. I was gripped from the start!' Mrs S, Amazon reviewer.

Factory girls fight for their loves, lives and rights in World War I Bermondsey

Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts

From America to Bermondsey, a story of hope, heartbreak and hardship, by the bestselling author of Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts. London, 1930. He promised her the earth. She found herself in hell. Handsome Frank Rossi took Matty Gilbie away from her working class roots in Bermondsey, East London and promised her fame and fortune. In America, the Cockney Canary would become a movie star. As his wife, she would be half of a power couple, fêted and adored by all. But the Wall Street Crash of 1929 puts paid to all that, and as Frank becomes more violent and unstable, Matty flees in the dead of night. Once home in Bermondsey, she goes into hiding and starts desperately looking for work. But only Peak Freans, the hated biscuit factory, is hiring staff. Then, as a secret from her past comes back to haunt her, Matty learns that Frank is on the move, determined to find her and get her back. PRAISE FOR BOURBON CREAMS AND TATTERED DREAMS: 'This book should not be missed. I cannot recommend it highly enough' Mrs H, Amazon reviewer. 'I LOVED this book. So much detail that I felt I was there. Great characters and so emotional' Oriette, Amazon reviewer. 'Amazing, heartfelt and moving' 23reviewstreet. 'This book is filled with love, laughter and hope, and while the characters do have their share of misfortunes and tragedies, what comes across in Gibson's writing is something that is sadly missing in today's modern, fast paced world – Community' Andrea Pryke, Amazon reviewer. 'The fascinating history combined with a story about real people with real problems and a lovely romantic ending made me fall in love with this book. I highly recommend this heartwarming story, it has a lot of charm and character' Suze Alexander, Amazon reviewer.

From America to Bermondsey, a story of hope, heartbreak and hardship

Bourbon Creams and Tattered Dreams

Ruby Scully

Despite the popular perception that genetic explanations of the causes of crime are new, biological determinism is an idea that dates back to the birth of criminology. This is largely due to the efforts of Cesare Lombroso, widely regarded as the father of modern criminology. His 1876 work, Criminal Man, drew on Darwin to propose that most lawbreakers were throwbacks to a more primitive level of human evolution--identifiable by their physical traits, such as small heads, flat noses, large ears, and the like. These "born criminals" could not escape their biological destiny. The "scientific" appeal of these theories of what Lombroso called criminal anthropology had a powerful and long-lasting influence in contemporary Italy, Europe, and the Western world as a whole, and even today the stereotypes they created resonate in popular culture. Lombroso's influential ideas are explored in this book

Cesare Lombroso and the Origins of Biological Criminology

Born to Crime

Handsome Frank Rossi took Matty Gilbie away from her working class roots in Bermondsey, East London and promised her fame and fortune. In America, the Cockney Canary would become a movie star. As his wife, she would be half of a power couple, fêted and adored by all. But the Wall Street Crash of 1929 puts paid to all that, and as Frank becomes more violent and unstable, Matty flees in the dead of night. Once home in Bermondsey, she goes into hiding and starts desperately looking for work. But only Peak Freans, the hated biscuit factory, is hiring staff. Then, as a secret from her past comes back to haunt her, Matty learns that Frank is on the move, determined to find her and get her back.

An incredible story of ordinary women living extraordinary lives, from the bestselling author of Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts. London, 1939. As the Blitz hits London, two sisters from Bermondsey find their lives changed beyond all recognition. May is known to her family as the homing pigeon because of her uncanny sense of direction. She will need it when a bombing raid destroys nearly everything she holds dear. With her home in ruins, she joins the ATS and becomes a gunner girl. Here she finds dangerous work, new friends and rivals – and painful choices in love. May's elder sister, Peggy, is trapped in a stifling marriage to a small-time crook. Amid the chaos of war, a route to freedom suddenly beckons and, along with it, new and passionate love. From the melting pot of war will come hardship and tragedy, as well as new, unexpected friendships and love affairs. PRAISE FOR GUNNER GIRLS AND FIGHTER BOYS: 'I learned so much, as the history of the Second World War was brought alive through vivid writing and wonderful storytelling. From the bomb sites of London to the countryside of Surrey, to the Middle East this is one book which will take you on a journey like no other book ever written' Petra, Amazon reviewer. 'A poignant saga of an East End of London family; their lives, loves, and losses during World War 2' Barbara Bee, Amazon reviewer. 'She makes Blitz time Bermondsey come to life' Abbie Scanlon, Amazon reviewer. 'Transported me back in time with a truly wonderful story. Lots of twists and turns and I absolutely loved the way it captures all the spirit and nostalgia from those times. Love love loved it!' Jojo's, Amazon reviewer. 'Gripping to the end. Wartime heartbreak, sadness, short lived happiness and love, you can taste the debris of war and share the odd moments of emotions' Sue Thornton, Amazon reviewer.

Gunner Girls And Fighter Boys

Challenging traditional gender expectations, thousands of girls of Gibson's generation not only aspired to public careers as writers, artists, educators, and even doctors but also began to experiment with new forms of "female masculinity" in attitude, bearing, behavior, dress, and sexuality--a pattern only gradually domesticated by the nonthreatening image of the "tomboy." Some, such as Gibson, at once realized and reenacted their dreams on the pages of antebellum story papers. This first modern scholarly edition of Mary Gibson's early fiction features ten tales of teenage girls (seemingly much like Gibson herself) who fearlessly appropriate masculine traits, defy contemporary gender norms, and struggle to fulfill high worldly ambitions.

Tales of Girlhood Ambition, Female Masculinity, and Women’s Worldly Achievement in Antebellum America

“Hero Strong” and Other Stories

During a period dominated by the biological determinism of Cesare Lombroso, Italy constructed a new prison system that sought to reconcile criminology with nation building and new definitions of citizenship. Italian Prisons in the Age of Positivism, 1861-1914 examines this "second wave" of global prison reform between Italian Unification and World War I, providing fascinating insights into the relationship between changing modes of punishment and the development of the modern Italian state. Mary Gibson focuses on the correlation between the birth of the prison and the establishment of a liberal government, showing how rehabilitation through work in humanitarian conditions played a key role in the development of a new secular national identity. She also highlights the importance of age and gender for constructing a nuanced chronology of the birth of the prison, demonstrating that whilst imprisonment emerged first as a punishment for women and children, they were often denied "negative" rights, such as equality in penal law and the right to a secular form of punishment. Employing a wealth of hitherto neglected primary sources, such as yearly prison statistics, this cutting-edge study also provides glimpses into the everyday life of inmates in both the new capital of Rome and the nation as a whole. Italian Prisons in the Age of Positivism, 1861-1914 is a vital study for understanding the birth of the prison in modern Italy and beyond.

Italian Prisons in the Age of Positivism, 1861-1914

A passionate and heartwarming saga from the bestselling author of CUSTARD TARTS AND BROKEN HEARTS. January 1947. The war is over. But London is still a wasteland. After eight years in the ATS, Hattie Wright returns to a Bermondsey she doesn't recognise. With so few jobs, she reluctantly takes work at the Alaska fur factory – a place rife with petty rivalries that she vowed never to set foot in again. But while she was a rising star in the ATS, Hattie's work mates are unforgiving in her attempts to promote herself up from the factory floor. After journeying across the world to Australia to marry her beloved, Clara is betrayed and returns penniless, homeless and trying to raise a child in the face of prejudice. While war widow, Lou, has lost more than most in the war. Her daughter and parents were killed in an air raid bomb blast and her surviving son, Ronnie, is fending for himself and getting into all kinds of trouble. The lifelong friendship these women forge while working in the fur factory will help them overcome crippling grief and prejudice in post-war Britain and to find hope in tomorrow. PRAISE FOR HATTIE'S HOME: 'Mary transported me right into the heart of Bermondsey and the damage, heartache and devastation the war had left behind. The sights, smells, wreckage, the poverty, it was all so real. Yet even in such dark times friendship and the community shines through' Dash F, Netgalley reviewer. 'If you want a real taste of East London life before 1914, and the horrors and occasional laughs the times could bring – this is a must read' Mark Ryes, Amazon reviewer. 'This is an absolute joy from start to finish and it's clear that Mary Gibson has a passion for history and a good yarn! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the reality of life for women in the period leading up to the Great War without the safety net of the Welfare State to fall back on. It's one of the best historic fiction books I've read in a long time' History Geek, Amazon reviewer. 'Gritty, heart-felt and very real. Gibson really gives you a clear understanding of what life was like ... If you are a fan of Nadine Dorries you will love this' Rachel, Amazon reviewer. 'I found myself laughing and crying along with the characters, in my opinion certainly worth 5 stars!' Shelley, Amazon reviewer.

After the war, London's in ruins. A story of love and laughter, against all the odds

Hattie's Home

The poignant and powerful second novel from the bestselling author of Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts. London, 1923. Bermondsey is the larder of London with its bustling docks, spice mill, tannery and factories. Milly Colman knows she's lucky. Working at Southwell's jam factory all week means she can have a pay packet and a laugh with her mates come Saturday. It's a welcome escape from home, where Milly must protect her mother and sisters from her father's violent temper. When autumn comes, hop-picking in Kent gives all the Colman women a longed-for respite. But it is there, on one golden September night, that Milly makes the mistake of her life and finds her courage and strength tested as never before. PRAISE FOR JAM AND ROSES: 'This book is raw and powerful and a fabulous read. This is where girl power came from; women like Milly and her family, girls who did not even have the vote at this time. This book is also a history lesson, telling the story of the general strike' Mrs H, Amazon reviewer. 'Well written, with pace, engaging characters, a good narrative and some suspense. A real authentic tone, too: the central characters reminded me of the formidable spirit of my mother/grandmothers who lived through, and survived, these demanding times' Fredmart, Amazon reviewer. 'A fantastic read! I was hooked from the first paragraph, Mary Gibson is a fabulous and talented writer. A book you can't put down but, yet you want to find out the ending without wanting the book to finish. Well done and thank you. Can't wait to read the next book' Michelle Thompson, Amazon reviewer. 'If you enjoy post war stories of women's hardship, based in london, then this is the book to read. It kept me enthralled from the start. Highly recommended' Shell R, Amazon reviewer. 'So full of emotion and tragedies, but also humour, happiness, love and hate' Patsy, Amazon reviewer.

The heartbreaking story of women's lives in London's docklands

Jam and Roses

London, 1939. As the Blitz hits London, two sisters from Bermondsey find their lives changed out of all recognition. May is known to her family as the homing pigeon because of her uncanny sense of direction. She will need it when a bombing raid destroys nearly everything she holds dear. With her home in ruins, she joins the ATS and becomes a gunner girl. Here she finds dangerous work, new friends and rivals - and painful choices in love. May's elder sister, Peggy, is trapped in a stifling marriage to a small-time crook. Amid the chaos of war, a route to freedom suddenly beckons and, along with it, new and passionate love. From the melting pot of war will come hardship and tragedy, as well as new, unexpected friendships and love affairs.

Gunner Girls and Fighter Boys

To find more information about Rowman and Littlefield titles, please visit www.rowmanlittlefield.com.

Mary Gibson

About

Books

Join the club