It is 1852 and Alexander, a young biographer in search of the truth about William Blake, has parted from his new bride and travelled to the village of Felpham. For it was here that the scene of Blake's darkest hour – the mysterious incident that caused him to be tried for Sedition – occurred. But the villagers hereabouts don't have much to say on the subject, and go strangely quiet whenever the trial is mentioned. We travel back to 1800, when William Blake and his faithful wife Catherine have just moved to Felpham to take up the promise of work under a new patron, William Hayley Esquire. This tireless taskmaster soon gives Blake so much work that his own poetry is neglected. Trying to appease his patron and still find time for his masterpiece frays Blake's nerves beyond endurance. Witnessing this exchange are Betsy and Johnnie, two young lovers employed in Mr Hayley's service. In awe of Blake's beautiful engravings and glorious paintings, Betsy enlists Johnnie to teach her to read so that she can experience Blake's poetry too. The happiness Betsy finds in Blake's words and Johnnie's arms is short lived, for the terror of invasion by Napoleon is a constant dark cloud on the horizon. When invasion looks imminent, soldiers flood the quiet town with their bright red uniforms and arrogant, drunken behaviour. Now is the time that the villagers must come together to defend William from heinous accusations that, if proved, will lead to prison or worse. But will they have the courage? And will Alexander, fifty years after the event, discover what truly went on at the trial? In Gates of Paradise, first published in 2006, Beryl Kingston vividly re-imagines the historical events which led to William Blake's trial for sedition in 1803.
First published in 1988, A Time to Love is a a story of two lives meeting. Ellen Murphy was born to a world of rotting slums and starving children. Determined to escape from poverty and her drunken Irish father, she takes a job as a shop girl on Shoreditch High Street. David Cheifitz is the only son of devout Jewish parents, David has grown up with his future mapped out. But he is an artist and a rebel. When he falls in love with Ellen Murphy, he turns his back on the old ways. But as time passes, life starts to get in the way: religious differences, rejection by David's parents and domestic strife throw up barriers between the newlyweds. It is only when David is drawn into the Great War do they realise how precious their marriage is and by then it may be too late.
Spirited and independent, lady's maid Nan Smithen has ambitions far beyond her station. Marriage to a wealthy businessman enchanted by her youth brings her position, children and a comfortable union. Until her doting husband is killed on an ill-fated trip to revolutionary France. Alone with three young children, Nan faces a bleak future, for there is no money left. But the strength of will that brought her this far drives her on. A newswalk in Mayfair is her first step towards establishing a business empire that will soon stretch throughout London and beyond. Nan's fortune starts to grow. Then Calverly Leigh, a dashing – and dangerous – cavalry officer waltzes into Nan's life and she discovers there is much, much more to life than selling the Tuppenny Times. Tuppenny Times, first published in 1989, is the first book of the Easter Empire trilogy.
Johnnie Easter takes his family by surprise when he falls in love with Harriet Sowervy. For all his business talent Johnnie is a shy lad, awkward at social events. But when he meets gentle Harriet, beaten into submission by her brutal parents, Johnnie reveals hidden strengths, rescuing his love from her prison-like life and making her his bride. Harriet's love for her rescuer, her hero, her husband, knows no bounds. Surely theirs is a marriage made in heaven? But as Johnnie devotes more and more time to the family business, rushing newspapers across the country on the swift new 'Fourpenny Flyers', Harriet suffers from his neglect. Until, amid the terrible massacre at Peterloo, where her eyes are opened to the suffering and deprivation of the poor around her, she meets dynamic revolutionary Caleb Rawson, who is everything Johnnie is not - passionate, exciting, and champion of the poor. And so the seeds of tragedy are sown...
A quartet of paintings hang in the gallery. The artist now famous, his subject long forgotten: nobody of consequence... Sent into service at the tender age of twelve, Rosie Goodison learns just how unfair the world really is. Some people work their entire lives and have little to show for it, while others do nothing and seem to have it all.Full of courage and gumption, Rosie can say for certain that this isn't type of world she wants to live in. Throughout the tumultuous 20th century, she gets swept up by the passion of the suffragettes, the horrors of the First World War, and the ever changing landscape of the social and political climate. Half a century later, Rosie remains only on these four canvases. A woman, a mother, a pioneer, a trailblazer. A woman who left her mark on the world. A woman who's life proves that everybody's somebody. In this stunning first part of the Jackson Family Saga, best-selling author Beryl Kingston takes readers on Rosie's journey to forge a better life for herself, her parents, and her peers. PRAISE FOR EVERYBODY'S SOMEBODY '...see history unfold through the fierce and caring eyes of a woman in love.' - Emily Murdoch 'In Everybody's Somebody, Rosie's colourful life is captured in a series of paintings, with Beryl Kingston applying the masterly brush strokes with her usual artistry and heart-warming style.' - Danielle Shaw, author of Love and Sacrifice 'An interesting and informative historical novel with a fabulously feisty heroine. War, love, loss, class struggles, this great read has so much to offer!' - Faith Bleasdale, author of Pinstripes PRAISE FOR BERYL KINGSTON 'Beryl Kingston understands how to weave dialogue, character, theme and a thumping love affair into unity.' - The Sunday Times 'Beryl Kingston is not to be missed. Each one is special.' - Elizabeth Buchan, bestselling author of The New Mrs Clifton
Growing up in the Tower of London under the loving protection of her soldier father, Peggy is proud and content, even if she does have to put up with her mother's nerves and her whining younger sister, Baby. But when fate moves to rip her away from the security she has known, it is down to her to look after her mother and two sisters. Taking the world's burdens on to her narrow shoulders is something that comes all too easily to Peggy, often at the expense of her own well-being. For later, when War comes to London, it only seems natural for Peggy to join the ARP and do her bit to protect her beloved city. Watching the skies through long, fear filled nights, fire-fighting and digging victims from the ruins of their homes does not excuse Peggy from her duties to her family, who still expect to be taken care of. But life seems to be looking up when love comes in the shape of neighbour Jim Boxall. Like Peggy, Jim has had to look after his own family from a young age, whilst doing his best to better himself in a world that dismisses his promise and intelligence because of his class. Joining the RAF is his chance to get on in the world, but it also tears him away from his home, and from Peggy. London Pride, first published in 1990, is Beryl Kingston's tribute to the people of London's endurance and bravery throughout the terrors of the Blitz, and a testament to how love – like the London Pride flower itself – can blossom and grow from the rubble.
As England basks in the golden years of Queen Victoria's reign, the Easter empire that began half a decade before with Nan Easter's newspaper walk, is growing from strength to strength. But then tragedy strikes, threatening to take all of Nan's hard-earned achievements away. Nan's son and heir, John, is killed an accident, so Nan has to entrust the vital task of running the business to someone else within the family. The natural choice is John's daughter, Caroline. Although still young, Caroline is spirited and forthright, brimming with new ideas for A. Easter and Sons - the most important being the introduction of books onto their newspaper stalls. But although Caroline proves to be as brilliant a businesswoman as Nan Easter herself, her weak-willed and ambitious cousin Edward, envious of her success and aghast at the thought that a girl should be managing things, becomes involved in a plot to sow the seeds of her downfall. However, Caroline, a born fighter, is prepared to meet this unexpected challenge head-on...
It is 1944, and Private Steve Wilkins is waiting to go to war. A new recruit to the mighty Desert Rats, he is billeted in Norfolk as the Allies meticulously plan the attack to open up the Second Front. Being nineteen and away from home for the first time, Steve, along with his fellow recruits, must find something to keep his mind off what lays ahead. The Saturday hop at King's Lynn, with its dancing and local girls, is the perfect distraction. Steve, calm and confident when it comes to the Army, but tongue tied when it comes to girls, usually leaves chasing tail to his friends. But when Steve witnesses a local lad pushing around a young girl, he intercedes without a second thought. Barbara, or Spitfire to her friends, isn't normally in need of rescuing. But when Steve comes to her aid and sweeps her away from Victor and onto the dance floor, she finds herself letting him. Caught in the drama of war, the pair find themselves carried away in the passionate flame of first love. But it isn't always plain sailing. Old flames and family conflict mar their bliss, and when the invasion tears them apart, Barbara and Steve must try to hold onto their love as the bombs fall. First published in 1999, Avalanche of Daisies is a story of how love can endure across great distance, time and adversity.
When Alison marries Rigby Toan she cannot believe her luck. Rigg is the perfect husband – loving, ambitious and attractive – and everybody envies them their happiness. But when the recession takes hold Rigg's facade is stripped away and his flashy car and sharp suits prove to be bought by expensive lies. As debts spiral out of control and their home is repossessed, Alison is forced to open her eyes to the world and to the sort of man her husband really is. From his position as a private investigator, Morgan watches as Alison trudges the weary path of poverty and despair. But even he underestimates the inspirational strengths of her determination to eventually win through. Maggie's Boy, first published in 1994, is a heartwarming story of the determination and love that can conquer a change of fortune and terrible hardship.
Gemma Goodeve, a young actress with a promising career, is involved in a terrible train crash in which many lives are lost and many people are injured. Gemma herself has to have her lower leg amputated before she can be freed from the wreckage. When she wakes from the anaesthesia she has to face the difficult truth, deal with a long and painful recovery and accept that she will not be able to act anymore. Her young doctor, Nick Quennell, becomes more than professionally involved in Gemma's care as he tries to protect her from the media circus that surrounds the rail accident and her own mother, who is far from being supportive. But is his care and romantic feeling really what Gemma needs and wants in this terrible moment in her life? In Gemma's Journey, first published in 1997, Beryl Kingston sets the romantic plot against the difficult issues of recovering from a life changing accident and with her characteristic interest in social problems she also explores the breakup of the rail network and gaps in the NHS system.
Her love for him so strong, Suki Brown has searched for Captain Jack for nearly a year, while he has been slave master on the Bonny Beaufoy. But when the ship returns Jack has been taken away in chains. Suki will have to find her former lover again.
As the Great War comes to a close, a new age dawns on London...Spoiled and stubborn, Anna Pelucci gets everything she wants. Doted on by her Italian father, she has more gowns than she can count and more suitors than she needs - but nothing is ever enough.Across town in south London, the young Mary Chapman leads a very different sort of life. Struggling through poverty, Mary is eager to make her life rich in more meaningful ways.But as the two girls make their way in the world, they are thrust together by shocking secrets from the past. And as they learn just how devastating life can be, will they turn to each other has friends or rivals?In this follow-up to her debut novel, Hearts and Farthings, best-selling author Beryl Kingston delivers an enchanting story of first loves and old flames, coming of age, and friendship. Kisses and Ha'pennies was first published in 1986.
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