The Stepney Doorstep Society: The remarkable true story of the women who ruled the East End through war and peace

(Paperback)

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Description

The unsung and remarkable stories of the women who held London's East End together during not one, but two world wars While the men were away at war it was strong women like Joan, Marie, Babs, Beattie and Minksy who ruled the streets of the East End. Kate Thompson tells the real stories of the war experienced by these matriarchs, a tribe of working-class women in the stinking slums, teeming tenements and sweatshops of East London. Forget church halls and jam-making, these powerfully authentic stories will have you questioning what you thought you knew about wartime women. From standing up to the Kray twins, to taking over the London Underground and crawling out of bombsites, these women fought to survive and protect their community in some of our country's darkest hours.

Reviews

The remarkable story of the women who ruled the East End through the Blitz. A lively authentic social history, the book centres around five formidable working-class women . . . a hair-raising, but always warmhearted tale * My Weekly *
Kate Thompson's interviews with east London's wartime matriarchs offer an important glimpse into a vanishing world * Sunday Express *
Kate Thompson writes books that make you laugh and make you cry, sometimes at the same time. You cannot put them down. I advise you to read them all! -- Anita Dobson
Kate Thompson's study of five working-class women who lived through the blitz shows how informal collectives can provide lasting support and inspiration . . . [a] fascinating account * Guardian *
Inspiring tales of courage in the face of hardship * Mail on Sunday *
Astonishing * Radio 5 Live *
Crammed full of fascinating stories * BBC 2 Steve Wright *
Untold stories from wartime Blitz * Woman's Weekly *
Britain's forgotten army * Daily Express *
Celebrates the lives of tough wartime matriarchs * ITV News *
Formidable women * Take a Break *

Author Bio

Kate Thompson is an award-winning journalist, ghost-writer and novelist who has published nine fiction and non-fiction titles. She worked at Pick Me Up magazine for six years and was subsequently named as IPC's 'True Life Writer of the Year' in 2006. Since then, Kate has worked on national newspapers, including the Daily Express and Daily Mail. Her debut novel, Secrets of the Singer Girls, became a Sunday Times bestseller in 2015.