Autumn Alley

by Lena Kennedy

Autumn where the East End's most fascinating call their home . . .Here you'll find Maud, the formidable Irish-American suffragette; sulky Patricia, whose unhappy childhood leads her to a dangerous love affair; vivacious, flame-haired Colleen; Mary, who struggles alongside her wayward husband to bring up children - and Arfer, whose quick mind lifts him out of the world of poverty in London's East End.*************What readers are saying about AUTUMN ALLEY'Wow!!' - 5 STARS'Couldn't put it down' - 5 STARS'Such a skilled storyteller' - 5 STARS'The story captivated me' - 5 STARS'I enjoyed it so much' - 5 STARS

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

413 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1980

About the author

Lena Kennedy (June 15, 1914 - August 1 1986), was an English author. Her books were mostly historic romantic fiction set in and around the East End of London where she lived for all her life. Some of her books, including her autobiography, were published posthumously.

She appeared, as a subject, on the television programme This Is Your Life shortly before her death in 1986.

Reviews

[amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it. I have read this book about 5 time. Found it in my grandfathers basement after he had passed - he gave it a great rating on the inside cover.

[Annalie McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend, Lena Kennedy is a natural story teller, I loved this book almost as much as Maggie

[Rabspur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t always read these type of Books, however it was listed on the Book club to which I am a member, got to say I really enjoyed the read easy to get into, and a lot happening, lots of interesting and likeable characters, set in London during part of the First World War, tragedy involving closely knit families spanning years, I can recommend this Book hence the five stars.

[Theresa-dawn Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

My late mother had all of Lena's books and even managed to meet her and get her autograph .i read those books also but Autumn Alley is the one I read time and time again. I love the huge wealth of characters and I love that this was set in the area I grew up in many years later..there is always a character who reminds you of someone you know and there was quite a few of them in this book .Lena manages to introduce more than the stereotypical image of east Londoners .beautifully written .

[Nicola Terry]

I enjoyed this one, found it very entertaining

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, even now I can remember the story

[Vio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top personajes q mas detesto:

Tim: la concha de tu madre no podias valorar mas a tu mujer? Te hubieses quedado con rosa. Aparte me enferma q a los tipos les importe tan poco sus hijos.
Pat: PENDEJA DE MIERDA ABRAZA A TU MADRE
Paul: por enfermo
Billy: por hombre
Marie: por yegua
Dandy: al principio me dabas ternura despues fuiste tan sorete q no me queda otra q odiarte
Colleen: fuiste una pendeja tan caprichosa q me daban ganas de arrancarte los pelos. Y me quitaste el pendejo a mollie. Basura.
Lil: nose me da mala vibra

Podria seguir, pero ya me canse

Por otro lado mary, ARTHUR, mollie, maud y el verdadero tipazo lew son la historia entera.
El final no me capturo mucho. Entiendo q tenian q terminar de contar la historia del pasaje pero fue aburrido, y los personajes q quedaron muy poco entretenidos. Me hubiese gustado seguir un poco la historia de vida de otros personajes, pero el libro en si es una ternura y no me puedo quejar.

[Patricia Bourque · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sad story about drunks and ignorance. I liked the beginning when characters were well defined and interesting, but then it began to seem like a monologue of more and more uninteresting characters, drunken, rude and tough and nothing changed from there. I couldn't keep track of all the different names.

It had elements of being an interesting book but I think where it failed me was that nobody grew. All the way through to the very end, they (the women and men) were mostly all just mean, self centered ignorant drunks. The one character I thought had promise - Mollie - turned into a bitter crank. I didn't like any of them and I'm kind of sorry I stuck it out to the end thinking there would be a turnaround. I hate to give 2 stars but I wouldn't be honest if I gave it 3.

[Tracy Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book plucked off my book shelves!! Have read this a few times, but many years ago so couldn't remember it too well.

Its quite a long read and the Chapters stop in the middle of the pages which can be annoying; but I still really enjoyed the book and found myself involved and immersed in the stories and the characters.

The characters are really brought to life and them and their lives are so realistic which is why you feel totally immersed in the story. Loved the characters and loved the story of the Alley!

Will definitely keep the book and read again, but will make sure I have another book on the go just to break the read a little!

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a book I got on a bargin rack and it seemed like something I would like to read. It started out great really gripped my attention could not put it down. Then it changed quickly and I had a hard time finishing it. She had to many people to follow and then they all got lost in the story line. I am still wanting to know what happened to a few people at the end of the book. It you don't mind rushed ending and story lines that are jumpy then this is book for you.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has taken me an astonishingly long time to read this book, life has got in the way, and in between I kept trying other books and then giving up. It was a wonderful easy read in the end, as ever the writer's relaxing style of writing just bobs along nicely. Just what was needed, it was also quite fitting as I started reading it on a canal boat in Limehouse Basin, so it really couldn't have been more atmospheric and true to life. Definitely in my top 10 authors.

[Maha Eshraa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading old English stories. The way they were written differs from the new stories and attracts you to read them again. Describing generations in one story with all its ups and downs and with a little bit of history made it worth reading.

[Charo Samblás González · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie es ese personaje que nunca olvidarás. No esperaba tanto de este libro, pero al final me ha enamorado.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge Lena Kennedy fan so it's hard for me to be unbiased; My great aunt introduced me to her novels when I was a teenager. My aunt was brought up in the East End of London with Irish/Scottish ancestry. I have inherited her love and fascination in our heritage. Autumn Alley is a story of Irish immigrants moving to East London to find work and create a new life. The main characters are Tim Murphy, his wife Mary and Tim's cousin Daniel Fitzpatrick. Tim and Daniel nicknamed Dandy, arrive first in London and gain work on the new tunnel being built at Blackwall. After downing a few pints in the local, Rosie the barmaid takes a shine to the redheaded, strong Irishman and Tim takes full advantage securing accommodation for the three of them. Dandy was not impressed with the little one up, one down Victorian terraced house; it was smelly and dirty but the two of them cleared the rubbish and used turps to rid the old mattress of fleas, in time for Mary's arrival. Mary used to living in the countryside, was a bit shocked by the Alleys Cockney residents; Bill and Lill next door with their many kids and fat old Sal who ran a little shop. Becky at no. 4 was friendly but the Browns who lived opposite seemed a bit odd.
Lovely Mary soon starts to make the Alley her home, learning who she can trust and who to stay wary of. Life in the East End has it's trials and tribulations and the odd drama, and it's never boring.
Autumn Alley brings to life the reality of what life was like from an immigrants point of view in the late 1800's. Lena Kennedy had a gift for storytelling based on real life experiences and anecdotes. Lena Kennedy remains to this day, over 40 years since reading her first book, my favourite author.

[Ann L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're going to read a Lena Kennedy novel, read "Maggie". After reading three of Lena Kennedy's novels, they are pretty much the same. The stories are based in East End, London where very poor people lived. Starvation, being drunk and abusive, getting constantly pregnant and being extremely poor seems to be the basis of all these stories aka "the ghetto". The stories are based during the time period of WWI or WWII. Some characters in the story actually do well for themselves financially and become a success in something. Some escape the ghetto and have better lives in other cities or countries, but some always stay behind in the "old" neighborhood. They just can't leave because they consider it home.

In all these novels, understanding the "Cockney" slang language is key to understanding the conversations in the novel. Because I grew up with a British mom I understood about 95% of that language, but there were a few words I did not know what they meant.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful East End of London saga written by a good author. Loved this book.

Back Cover Blurb:
Gas lights and horse drawn buses, gin-soaked night clubs and fluttering lace curtains: the world of Autumn Alley.
Meet Maud, the formidable Irish-American suffragette; sulky Patricia, whose unhappy childhood leads her to a dangerous love affair; vivacious, flame-haired Colleen; Mary, who struggles to bring up children beside her wayward husband - and Arfer, whose quick mind lifts him out from the world of poverty in London's East End.

[Brian Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story! You get a perfect view of old London around the late 1800's, and during the great war!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant.