A Mother's Wish

From this major talent in saga-writing, author of Mermaids Singing; The Cockney Sparrow; A Mother's Courage and The Constant Heart comes this compelling new story set in turn-of-the-twentieth-century London.

Since the untimely death of her husband, young mother Effie Grey has been forced to live on a narrowboat owned by her tyrannical, crippled father-in-law Jacob. She is determined to protect her brother Tom and her baby son Georgie from Jacob's bullying ways. Effie and Tom see little of the pittance they are able to earn by trading along the River Lea, and with no other family to support them they have no choice but to put up with their increasingly difficult situation. When Tom is sent packing, Effie is driven to desperation and she steals Jacob's hidden cache of money and escapes with her son. She begins her frantic search for her beloved brother and vows that whatever happens she will make a home for Georgie and keep him safe from harm.


From the Hardcover edition.