Items related to London's Child
Synopsis
Abandoned by his unmarried mother, a young foundling endures the hardships and poverty of the workhouse to become the powerful, wealthy owner of London's most famous store, in a story of love, ambition, and revenge set against early twentieth-century London
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From the Author
The first child of a new century . . .
The first hours of the twentieth century, and Ben London is born in an East End cemetery, the illegitimate child of a Yorkshire housemaid. She leaves her baby - not to die, but to live - on the steps of the London Hospital where he's taken in by a childless nurse. After happy years she dies, and her lodger sells Ben to the Workhouse. From there, the only way Ben can go is up - and he makes his way up at any cost. But always he carries within him the memory of the happiness he knew as a child, and knows the enduring power of love. From Workhouse to slums to gangland to his love for the slum girl Ria that almost destroys him, to his marriage to the Vane the heiress, his heroism over the trenches in the First War and his ruthless acquisition of London's greatest store, this memory of love motivates and empowers Ben London and makes him the extraordinary man he is. This was the first book I wrote about London and it's as accurate and full of life as I can make it. Many of the families are real, taken from street directories, Workhouse rolls, newspaper reports. Researching the Workhouse scenes, which are authentic, even to the personality of the Workhouse Master (who in real life ended up in prison) opened my eyes to quite extraordinary aspects of London life. Equally extraordinary to me were the large numbers of children who volunteered to go and fight in the trenches - sometimes I hear from people who can't believe those scenes are true, but they are. My favourite scene is the birth scene in the cemetery as the fireworks are going off because it's so far-out, yet works so well. And I love the scene where Vic teaches Ben how to steal oranges.
About the Author
Philip Boast lives in Devon with his wife Rosalind and three children, Harry, Zoe and Jamie.
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- PublisherSt Martins Pr
- Publication date1988
- ISBN 10 0312017863
- ISBN 13 9780312017866
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
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London's Child
Published by
St Martins Pr, Gordonsville, Virginia, U.S.A., 1988
ISBN 10: 0312017863
ISBN 13: 9780312017866
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Jay W. Nelson, Bookseller, IOBA, Austin, MN, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Seller Inventory # 043698
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London's Child
Published by
Saint Martin's Press, LLC, New York, NY, U.S.A., 1988
ISBN 10: 0312017863
ISBN 13: 9780312017866
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Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Vashon Island Books, Vashon, WA, U.S.A.
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Hardcover. Condition: Very Good+. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good+. First American Edition. The saga of a foundling's rise to fortune. Light wear to spine tips. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Book. Seller Inventory # 0710444
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LONDON'S CHILD
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ST. MARTIN'S PRESS, NY, 1987
ISBN 10: 0312017863
ISBN 13: 9780312017866
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Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Gian Luigi Fine Books, Albany, NY, U.S.A.
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Hardcover. Condition: USED_FINE. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition. Seller Inventory # 044874
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London's Child
Seller: Irish Booksellers, Portland, ME, U.S.A.
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Condition: Good. SHIPS FROM USA. Used books have different signs of use and do not include supplemental materials such as CDs, Dvds, Access Codes, charts or any other extra material. All used books might have various degrees of writing, highliting and wear and tear and possibly be an ex-library with the usual stickers and stamps. Dust Jackets are not guaranteed and when still present, they will have various degrees of tear and damage. All images are Stock Photos, not of the actual item. book. Seller Inventory # 29-0312017863-G
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LONDON'S CHILD
Published by
New York: St. Martin's Press, (1988)., 1988
ISBN 10: 0312017863
ISBN 13: 9780312017866
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: BOOKFELLOWS Fine Books, ABAA, Sun City, AZ, U.S.A.
Seller rating 3 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: USED_FINE. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First U.S. edition, first printing: Review copy with publisher's folded sheet laid in. Fine in a fine wraparound illustrated dust jacket. The saga of a foundling's rise to fortune. "This was the first book I wrote about London and it's as accurate and full of life as I can make it. Many of the families are real, taken from street directories, Workhouse rolls, newspaper reports. Researching the Workhouse scenes, which are authentic, even to the personality of the Workhouse Master (who in real life ended up in prison) opened my eyes to quite extraordinary aspects of London life.". Seller Inventory # 679001988
Quantity: 1 available