Autorentext

Victor E Knight was born in 1939 in Barking, where the public library provided more of his early education than did his primary school. He studied piano as a Junior Exhibitioner at the Royal Academy of Music. He took a degree in German and Russian at Magdalene College, Cambridge, and, later, a PhD in German at Edinburgh. He held various posts in university libraries, finally (as chief librarian) at Liverpool. He was invited to visit Jakarta as adviser to the National Library of Indonesia. He has played the trombone in amateur orchestras and accompanied and conducted amateur operatic societies.

Klappentext

In this captivating family saga set in London from the late Victorian era to the early twentieth century, two sisters and two brothers navigate the complexities of love, family, and fortune. The elder siblings, favoured and spoiled since childhood, find themselves grappling with unhappiness and a secret misfortune that haunts the sisters' lives, while the overlooked younger pair demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity. Woven throughout the narrative is the poignant melody of the popular 1897 song, 'Two Little Girls in Blue,' whose tragic love story mirrors the events of the novel, with the song's composer making an appearance. From the bustling family businesses to the atmospheric Horn of Plenty pub in London's East End, still haunted by the spectre of Jack the Ripper, the novel's vivid settings come alive, with the pub managed by the author's own grandparents. Narrated by the son-nephew of the two couples, the story takes an unexpected turn when, guided by his friend, the renowned H.G. Wells, he unravels the tragedy that has shaped his family members' lives.