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

The unsung and remarkable stories of the women who held London's East End together during not one, but two world wars.

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Meet Minksy, Gladys, Beatty, Joan, Girl Walker . . .

While the men were at war, these women ruled the streets of the East End. Brought up with firm hand in the steaming slums and teeming tenements, they struggled against poverty to survive, and fought for their community in our country's darkest hours.

But there was also joy to be found. From Stepney to Bethnal Green, Whitechapel to Shoreditch, the streets were alive with peddlers and market stalls hawking their wares, children skipping across dusty hopscotch pitches, the hiss of a gas lamp or the smell of oxtail stew. You need only walk a few steps for a smile from a neighbour or a strong cup of tea.

From taking over the London Underground, standing up to the Kray twins and crawling out of bombsites, The Stepney Doorstep Society tells the vivid and moving stories of the matriarchs who remain the backbone of the East End to this day.

'An importance glimpse into a vanishing world' Sunday Express

'Inspiring tales of courage in the face of hardship' Mail on Sunday

'Crammed full of fascinating stories' BBC 2 Steve Wright

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)

Astonishing (Radio 5 Live)

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)

From the Inside Flap

Minksy, Gladys, Beatty, Joan, Girl Walker. While the men were at war, these women ruled the streets of the East End. Brought up with firm hand in the steaming slums and teeming tenements, they struggled against poverty to survive, and fought for their community in our country's darkest hours.

But there was also joy to be found. From Stepney to Bethnal Green, Whitechapel to Shoreditch, the streets were alive with peddlers and market stalls hawking their wares, children skipping across dusty hopscotch pitches, the hiss of a gas lamp or the smell of oxtail stew. You need only walk a few steps for a smile from a neighbour or a strong cup of tea.

From taking over the London Underground, standing up to the Kray twins and crawling out of bombsites, The Stepney Doorstep Society tells the vivid and moving stories of the matriarchs who remain the backbone of the East End to this day.

320 pages
Publisher: Penguin (23 Aug. 2018)