From the back cover:
"A poignant novel of fortitude in the face of unimaginable deprivation, and a celebration of the spirit of a community and a vanished way of life.
Court No. 5, near the Liverpool docks, is one of the worst slums in Europe but, for the dozen families who live there, the warmth of friends and neighbours is a constant, as they share in the hardships and small triumphs of their relentless fight for survival. For women liked Martha connolly, each day is a struggle, and Martha must use all her ingenuity to feed and clothe her 9 children in the face of the constant threat of hunger and disease.
In 1938, rumours of war reach the court and soon it's clear that the coming hostilities will change things for ever. Hard though it is, this is the only life Martha has ever known - can she prevent it being swept away?
"A poignant novel of fortitude in the face of unimaginable deprivation, and a celebration of the spirit of a community and a vanished way of life.
Court No. 5, near the Liverpool docks, is one of the worst slums in Europe but, for the dozen families who live there, the warmth of friends and neighbours is a constant, as they share in the hardships and small triumphs of their relentless fight for survival. For women liked Martha connolly, each day is a struggle, and Martha must use all her ingenuity to feed and clothe her 9 children in the face of the constant threat of hunger and disease.
In 1938, rumours of war reach the court and soon it's clear that the coming hostilities will change things for ever. Hard though it is, this is the only life Martha has ever known - can she prevent it being swept away?
Written like a biography, this is the story of a woman for whom each day is a struggle. Set in the 30's near the Liverpool docks in England, this story takes you into one of the worst slums in Europe. Historically correct and vivid. This is a poignant novel of fortitude in the face of unimaginable deprivation. An uplifting tale written with understanding and honesty. You will enjoy this book, I promise. It is a rare gem.
