Description
The story of a murder and its aftermath. On Christmas Night in 1881, John Manley, a poor son of Irish immigrants living in the slums of Leeds, was fatally stabbed in a drunken quarrel. The frightened murderer went on the run, knowing that capture could see him hang. A few generations later, author Catherine Czerkawska begins to tease out the truth behind her great-great-uncle's tragic death. But she uncovers far more than she bargained for. In a personal family story that takes us from Ireland to the industrial heartlands of England and Scotland, from the nineteenth century to the twentieth, Catherine gives voice to people often maligned by society and silenced by history - immigrants, women, the working classes. She unearths a tale of injustice and poverty, hope and resilience, and she is both angered and touched by what she finds. Catherine is driven to keep digging, to get to the very heart of life - and death - in the not-so-distant past.
About the Author
Catherine Czerkawska is a multi-award-winning historical novelist and playwright based in Scotland. She has written plays for the stage, ITV and BBC Radio 4, and has published numerous short stories. Her eight novels include The Curiosity Cabinet, shortlisted for the Dundee International Book Prize and serialised on BBC radio.
Reviews
"Turns difficult family subject matter into a fascinating book, full of resonance." * Irish Times *
"An emotional journey into a family's past ... This is a touching family memoir-cum-true crime story and far-reaching social history written with empathy, insight and warmth for those hardy souls who came before." * Family Tree magazine *
"Stands out from the crowd for all the right reasons ... [a book] clearly destined to be remembered ... Catherine Czerkawska takes us on journeys that are deeply revealing about the lives lived only a few generations ago ... a fine example of microhistory." * Undiscovered Scotland *
Book Information
ISBN 9781912235537
Author Catherine Czerkawska
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Contraband
Publisher Saraband
About the Author
Catherine Czerkawska is a multi-award-winning historical novelist and playwright based in Scotland. She has written plays for the stage, ITV and BBC Radio 4, and has published numerous short stories. Her eight novels include The Curiosity Cabinet, shortlisted for the Dundee International Book Prize and serialised on BBC radio.
Reviews
"Turns difficult family subject matter into a fascinating book, full of resonance." * Irish Times *
"An emotional journey into a family's past ... This is a touching family memoir-cum-true crime story and far-reaching social history written with empathy, insight and warmth for those hardy souls who came before." * Family Tree magazine *
"Stands out from the crowd for all the right reasons ... [a book] clearly destined to be remembered ... Catherine Czerkawska takes us on journeys that are deeply revealing about the lives lived only a few generations ago ... a fine example of microhistory." * Undiscovered Scotland *
Book Information
ISBN 9781912235537
Author Catherine Czerkawska
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Contraband
Publisher Saraband
