Down Lambeth Way

Adams Family Saga #1

by Mary Jane Staples

The Adams family of Walworth were poor, cheerful, and above all respectable - even though they sometimes had to seek a little help from the pawnbroker. Mrs Adams - affectionately called Chinese Lady by her children - was a widow, her soldier husband having gone, rather carelessly, to a hero's death on the Northwest Frontier. There was Boots, the bright one, and Tommy, the quiet one, and Sammy, the nine-year-old wheeler-dealer of the family. There was Mr Finch, the lodger, and dreadful Em'ly next door, and genteel Miss Chivers with the terrible old mother, but above all there was Lizzy. Lizzy was one of the prettiest girls in Walworth. She was young, and always sounded her aitches, and she cared terribly about being clean and neat and...proper. Lizzy was a peach of a girl. When Lizzy fell in love it was 1914. Everyone was going to be affected, things were going to change. But whatever happened, the Adams family - gutsy, tough and cheeky - would come through.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Audiobook, Historical, British Literature, Slice Of Life

427 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Mary Jane Staples is a pseudonym used by British author Reginald Thomas Staples (1911-2005). He is also published under the name Robert Tyler Stevens, R.T. Stevens, and James Sinclair.

Reviews

[Dorcas · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Down Lambeth Way" is the first book in a 29 book series of the Adams saga. The covers in the series look YA but they're really not. By that, I don't mean to say they're neccesarily inappropriate, but it depends on the age of the reader, some subject matter may be a little mature or intense for very young readers. (I'll explain in the content section below).

I think first books in a series are very much like pilot episodes on TV. Some time is by neccesity taken up in the introduction of characters, setting the scenes, the backgrounds, the personalities etc. For the first 80-100 pages you might just assume its a cheeky cockney YA story with lots of playful characters but not much substance. But its so much more. Just give it time.

In this series, we start with a cockney family, fatherless since the Boer war, a mother who makes due with the help of "Uncle" (the pawn broker) and her enterprising children. When the story begins, the children are quite young, the oldest being 14 or 15, but over the course of the book, about five years elapse and everyone is forced to grow up.

The first serious thing (well, aside from getting head lice) that the family experiences, is a murder in the neighborhood, and their good friend and neighbor is being tried. There is a court trial with several characters being cross examined.

Around the same time, war is declared and we experience the reality of life on the front as well as its aftermath.

Between that there is love, courtship, marriage, political intrigue, and plenty of tea and cockney humor.

I always love Mary Jane Staples books (aka Robert Tyler Stevens), he manages to combine just the right amount of serious subject matter with humor and action to keep me engrossed page after page and leaving me with a warm fuzzy feeling. I don't understand why his books never really "made it" in the US but I'm happy they can still be found through online sites.

CONTENT:
SEX: Fade to black, mentioned frankly but not explicitly for example, one character is taught the "mysteries " by a female ambulance driver on the front. There is also frequent mention of underclothing and particularly breasts being either firm, pouty, perky, overflowing, soft as pillows, nipples showing through, as well as one touch and some cheeky innuendo
VIOLENCE: War time violence, nothing gory but people are injured. A woman is murdered her throat is slit
PROFANITY: Some, mostly British in nature
MY RATING: Strong PG

[Lianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was bought for me by Mum as a Christmas present. When I opened it, I can't say I was thrilled at the prospect of reading it. However, she used to read this series when she was younger so her buying it for me held some sentimentality. For this reason, I thought I'd give it a go.
I have to say that I quite enjoyed it. Now it's not going to be the best book I ever read, but with it being a series, I might actually buy and read the next one.
It's a sweetly innocent family saga set during the period of World War One. It centres around the Adams family (not the gothic one with the catchy theme tune) and their experience of living through London in the wartime.
The characters were likeable and I have a bit of a soft spot for the wild terror that is Emily. They had to endure some serious issues and post war injuries that made the family really endearing. I was definitely rooting for them to pull through the tragedies that they faced; And pull through they did.
This is a sweet tale of youth, innocence and family that actually made me feel quite nice afterwards. I told my mum that I enjoyed it and she couldn't have been more excited. I think I know what I'll be getting for many Christmases and Birthdays to come.
The only reason I didn't give it more stars was because of the length. Staples chooses to describe every little detail which can be a tad tiring at times. I think that this book could have benefited from a little more editing. It would have been 100 pages less and benefited from more stars.
That being said, I enjoyed it and will definitely buy the next book in the series.
A surprising read that reminded me not to judge a book by its cover.

[Mrstaffsdad · Rating 5 out of 5]

first of the adams family saga. Lovely books about cockney life throught the years.

[Loretta]

I read rather a lot in this series many years ago. I enjoyed the first first four or five but only continued reading the later books because I'd become attached to a few of the characters and wanted to see what happened to them.
After a few books, the continual attempts at 'Cockney' chat and 'humour' began to get on my nerves, as did the 'upper class' conversations. It sounded a bit too over-the-top and almost stilted in a weird way. I started becoming irritated by the same old banter (especially when romance was involved) of all but a couple of the main people. In the end, it all grated too much and I stopped reading them. However, this first one was enjoyable as we're the next few and the fact that I did continue to read them for a while does say something positive.
I still have the first books I bought on my bookshelves but only keep them because I did become attached to the characters. Nevertheless, they whiled away a good few hours when I was very ill and for that, I am grateful.
By the way, Mary Jane Staples also wrote under the name of Robert Tyler Stevens, which I believe was the author's real name.

[Charli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should have known Mary Jane Staples was actually a man, no woman would describe boobs the way a man does when writing 😂

Actually really enjoyed this way more than I thought. Not sure if that was the story, or the writing or the fact my family are from Walworth but either way, it was an enjoyable read

[Catherine Yarwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read nearly all of these books - so I'm reviewing them as one.

The books in question are a large collection of stories about Walworth cockneys spanning the early 1900s to the 1950s, mainly surrounding the Adams family. Mary Jane Staples is actually a pseudonym for a man called Reginald Thomas Staples (1911 - 2005). He lived in Walworth during the times he writes about and a lot of the writing does seem a little rose-tinted. I mean this was Walworth during and between the wars. It can’t have been pretty.

The first couple of book are actually quite good if you like a bit of a light read. The characters start off interesting and complex, the First World War breaks out and there are a fair few 'Moiders’ and other grisly happenings.

However as they progress, the author clearly gave up. He just churns out the same dialogue pattern again and again. Basically something boring will happen and you get to see the entire family all react in different places and in different ways. Helene, who is French, will go 'Ooh la la Bobby, Ma Cherie this is crazy but not as crazy as you’ (I shit you not). Chinese Lady will go 'Oh I don’t know Edwin about all these changes. Would you like a nice pot of tea?’ The list goes on. Honestly, he uses up about two thirds of the books towards the end just going through it. It reminds me of crap sitcoms that just trot out catch phrases and old jokes that were popular in a now-long-ago episode.

The overuse of two-word sentences to end a scene. Because these Adams folk are jolly, lively folk. 'Sammy winked. Suzie smiled. Paula giggled’. 'Boots smiled. Eyes rolled.’ Honestly, it happens constantly. I don’t know if the author was trying to give the impression of stage directions to have the connotation of watching a 'lively’ domestic scene, but it. Didn’t work. It’s lame. Stop it.

The women are pathetic. They only live to serve. They are weird if they don’t get married and have babies. There were a handful of women who started out feisty, purely as a plot device. Polly (the flapper) - she got married off and impregnated. Lulu (the politician) - she was portrayed negatively the whole time she had a political career and supported feminism. She was of course married off and impregnated. Once she had children she calmed down and became a 'proper’ woman (also, for some reason in these books, troublesome women are conveyed through harsh haircuts. When they accept servitude, their hair is suddenly described as longer and softer, and the language because so much more pleasant). Emily, who only has one child (no!) and small boobs (the horror!) wants a career AFTER she is married (crazy bitch). It’s OK though, she gets killed by a bomb. Not a moment too soon.

However, one thing that is consistently good is the way food is described. It makes me hungry a lot. Similar to Mallory Towers books - I end up craving things that are just not in my regular life. Like jam sponges and custard. Or treacle tart. Or winkles. I don’t even know what winkles are.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable story set in an English village during the war. This is about a family and their neighbors, the ups and downs, laughter and sadness.
The Adams family are without a father and so Mrs Adams is both. She's learned that sometimes her sons need a box around the ears occasionally and she tries to make them learn to speak properly so that their expectations can rise. Mrs Adams known as Chinese Lady is a real character and so are her children. Boots is the eldest and is determined to be a gentleman, he's language is to be heard, according to his siblings. Another of Chinese Lady's sons, Sammy is a definite money lender as far as his famiy believes. Already loan sharking at 9 years, even lending with interest, to his mother at only 10.
As well as these entertaining individuals there is also a community mystery taking place after one of the neighbours is found in her bed, murdered.

[jane king · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read the Adams family books years ago. Having a sort out of books for the charity shop I came across them and decided to read them again before passing them on. They are an easy read, especially if you've read them before, and do pass on info about life during the first war and the times of hardship after. Enjoyable if you like family sagas.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this before and enjoyed it, who couldn't love the Adams family. Read it again as a bedtime book so I didn't keep myself awake trying to find out what happens.

[Jeanette Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good old-fashioned cockney family making the most of the little they have in London 1912.

Another great read!

[Lynn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read which is at times quite comic but also an informative social history of cockney life and times of an ordinary everyday family.

[Mervi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in a 31-book series, the “Adams Family”, by Mary Jane Staples (aka Robert Tyler Stevens, the pseudonyms of Reginald Thomas Staples). The book, and the saga, starts off in 1912, pre-World War I, aka ”The Great War” (28 July 1914–11 November 1918).

The Adams family lives on Caulfield Place, Walworth, England. The street is a cul-de-sac with 12 terraced houses on one side, and 6 houses and 2 factories on the other. The 5-person family comprises of one adult and 4 children. The dark-brown-haired Mrs. Adams was widowed when her husband died on active duty in the Boer War in India, in 1906. The Adams’ children call her “Chinese Lady”, due to her brown almond eyes and as she had taken in laundry, before starting to clean at the town hall. Mrs. Adams receives an army widow’s pension.
The children are:
- 15-year-old Bobby (Robert), better known as “Boots”. He is furthering his studies, going through secondary school with the aid of a 10-shilling/month school grant, as his mother is a war widow.
- The dark-brown-haired, 13-year-old Lizzy (Eliza), who is considered pretty. She is fastidious in her cleanliness, particularly when it comes to her clothing.
- 11-year-old Tommy is mousy-haired and of sturdy frame. He is quiet and equable, with a willing spirit.
- Dark-haired and wiry-legged, 9-year-old Sammy has a covetous soul. He tries not to do anything without being paid for it, even if it’s family in question. Sammy has initiative.

The Adams family also had a lodger. This was a common practice in those days to help with running costs. Mr. Finch has been with the family for 5 years. He is tall, fair-haired and grey-eyed, and in his early forties. He’s a river pilot operating out of the London docks, with irregular work hours. Mr. Finch always looks spruced up, wearing blue or dark-grey suits. He also sounds very educated, and ladies respect him.

The Adams family’s nextdoor neighbours are the Castle family: mother, father and daughter Emily. Emily is, like Lizzy, 13 years old and they are best friends. Emily is skinny-legged and thin all over. She has a great mass of tangled, untidy auburn hair and green eyes. Emily is a terror, and she has a crush on Boots.

Thirty-year-old, quiet, shy and genteel Miss. Elsie Chivers also lives on their street with her widowed mother. Mrs. Chivers claims to be an invalid and never goes out, and no one ever visits. Everyone calls her “The Witch” because she has a beaky nose, jutting chin, glinting eyes, and hands that look like claws in black mittens. Elsie is a slave to her mother. Her mother never lets Elsie out of her sight, apart from her daily work at the Admiralty, and a once-a-month Sunday tea with the Adams family, provided she stays no later than 8 o’clock. Miss. Chivers has an air of gentle, uncomplaining tolerance, soft myopic brown eyes, and a soft and quiet voice.

This book takes us up to the start of the war, to 1914–1915. Lizzy has fallen in love but things are to change, not only for her but for everyone, never to be the same again.

The story is told through Boots’ eyes, which is refreshing. It also enables quite a wide view of the war to be given, as he is not only the eldest, taking on a lot of the family responsibilities on his father’s demise, but also being of conscription age.

The story moves on slowly, but then life was slower in those days. A great deal of attention was given to clothing, food and, of course, money. Then again, in those days, people — especially the poor — had to first ensure the three basic needs: food, clothing and accommodation, i.e. rent.

The innocence of that period was noticeable, most unlike this day and age with its revealing dress to pornography, where nothing is left to the imagination.

I enjoyed this book for its social historical aspect, and I especially like stories from both world wars. The legal procedures and conduct in court, the importance of sealed lips in war time, and other such factors were some of the great themes portrayed.

[Emmy-Lou James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in Mary Jane Staples 'Adams' family series.
I loved every aspect of the story, from the humour of this beautiful family.
Robert 'Boots' Adams, the eldest son, his sister Lizzie, Tommie and Sammy the youngest boys, their mum, Chinese Lady and Emily, the girl next door.
The story is all about their family and their struggles with poverty in the East End of London in pre-WW1 London.
What was particularly stunning, was the way the family dealt with the trials and tribulations poverty brought with a sense of humour, community and family values.
Would definitely recommend to anyone who loves books about family, life in the East End, London and the wit centred around Cockney charm.

[Rhona Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first of a lovely book

I have read this series many times over the years. Nowadays there are many books like this written by Rosie Clarke, Lizzie Lane, Pam Howes and so on, but Mary Jane Staples was for me the first and best. For anyone finding this series and falling in love with the Adams Family, to me Boots is one of my fictional heroes. His humour, his love for his family, friends and the way he goes about things positively all the time. If you're filling a little low, read these books.
There are lists available especially on fantastic fiction where you can get the whole list of 29 Adams books. Nothing to do with the American Addams family that is different culture.
These are very enjoyable, easy to read and highly entertaining.
Highly recommended.

[Joseph McDonald]

Takes a while to get going but once it does, it's worth the read. The characters are all likeable and appealing (which really helps for the first half of the book), the plot has just enough twists to keep you guessing, and as far as I could tell, the period detail is second to none. We could have done with more than one POV though, especially later on when (spoiler) Boots is away at war, and there are some quite significant developments in the Mrs Chivers murder plot happening offscreen. I look forward to reading more of these books.

[Kerry Spyve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have already read write a few Adams family saga and wanted to know how it all started that's why I read this book and it really didn't disappoint.
Mary Jane Staples has a unique talent to get the reader hooked from the first chapter, with how she described the conditions in London at all the time line this saga covers. She also puts little twists and turns to keep you reading. Definitely made me a big fan

[Alice Leak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in 2 separate series by Mary Jane Staples. The Cockney Life series and the Adams family series. The first 3 books written would appear to relate to both series before branching out separately. I love family sagas and enjoyed this one immensely hence the 5*. Look forward to reading more by this author.

[Lynn Rickard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story line!
Loved the cockney slang
Characters were wonderful!
Will read next in series , “Our. Emily “

[Lynn Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read several books in this saga, it was interesting to read the first one and learn how it all started, I think her writing has improved in later books.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming family story

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this! The spy thing was a bit much, but I adored the details of daily life and the characters.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cami knickers. Laughed out loud

[Dorrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes a bit to get going, and I found the term 'Chinese Lady' a bit odd and awkward, however, you quickly find yourself gripped by the introductory book to this cockney saga. Enjoyable.

[Alžběta · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Down Lambeth Way" is a relaxing and light mix of historical fiction, coming-of-age and murder mystery, and full of funny and moving moments.

[Indiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic :)

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed by my sister who likes this genre but not my cup of tea. Will give the rest of the series to her. Finished it but struggled. Well narrated.


A book of hardships...

[Jennsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It’s set from around 1912 to the 1914-1915. I like the characters, and I found it an enjoyable read

[Elizabeth Dewfall · Rating 5 out of 5]

So lovely to revisit a old friend

[sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant reads

I absolutely love these books
I have read them all multiple times over the years and never tire of them

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved getting back to the Adams family. There were some slow chapters that were overly descriptive but it was an endearing story about times gone by.