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Paragon Place
A saga set in Bermondsey during the war.
Paperback
First published December 6, 1990
7 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Harry Bowling
38 books21 followers‘I suppose most people would see the ability to tell a story as a talent to entertain, but where I was born and raised, being able to spin a yarn was considered an asset of survival and, at times, it became a necessity…’ he said.
Harry was born in 1931, in Leroy Street, a back street off the Tower Bridge Road, the second child of Annie and Henry Bowling. His older sister Gladys died of meningitis before her second birthday. Harry’s grandfather worked at a transport yard as a carman-horsekeeper. He used to take Harry there to watch him and to pat the horses. He spent his youth hanging around the Tower Bridge Road market or hunting through Borough Market, a wholesale fruit and veg market near London Bridge, exploring the docklands and wharves, and swimming in the Thames.
Harry’s first contact with books began at the local library encouraged by his father, who was permanently disabled after being wounded during the First World War. Henry Bowling was often unemployed and struggled to support the family. Harry was only ten when the Second World War broke out. He could remember the day when Surrey Docks was bombed. His father helped him with his early education and he and his younger brother passed scholarships to Bermondsey Central School. He left the school at the age of 14 to help the family income by working at a riverside provision merchant as an office boy.
Only when his own children began to ask questions about the war, did Harry realise how many stories he had to tell. He started gathering scribbles and notes and wrote his first book. It was a factual account of the war and Harry realised it would probably have only a limited readership. He became aware that historical fiction was very popular and that there was no one writing about the East End of London, and the war, at that time. In his fifties, he was given early retirement from his job as a brewery driver-drayman, and was at last able to devote his time to writing.
He became known as ‘the King of Cockney sagas’, and he wrote eighteen bestselling novels of London life.
Harry was born in 1931, in Leroy Street, a back street off the Tower Bridge Road, the second child of Annie and Henry Bowling. His older sister Gladys died of meningitis before her second birthday. Harry’s grandfather worked at a transport yard as a carman-horsekeeper. He used to take Harry there to watch him and to pat the horses. He spent his youth hanging around the Tower Bridge Road market or hunting through Borough Market, a wholesale fruit and veg market near London Bridge, exploring the docklands and wharves, and swimming in the Thames.
Harry’s first contact with books began at the local library encouraged by his father, who was permanently disabled after being wounded during the First World War. Henry Bowling was often unemployed and struggled to support the family. Harry was only ten when the Second World War broke out. He could remember the day when Surrey Docks was bombed. His father helped him with his early education and he and his younger brother passed scholarships to Bermondsey Central School. He left the school at the age of 14 to help the family income by working at a riverside provision merchant as an office boy.
Only when his own children began to ask questions about the war, did Harry realise how many stories he had to tell. He started gathering scribbles and notes and wrote his first book. It was a factual account of the war and Harry realised it would probably have only a limited readership. He became aware that historical fiction was very popular and that there was no one writing about the East End of London, and the war, at that time. In his fifties, he was given early retirement from his job as a brewery driver-drayman, and was at last able to devote his time to writing.
He became known as ‘the King of Cockney sagas’, and he wrote eighteen bestselling novels of London life.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 9, 2025
I am still currently reading for the 2nd time, but just want to say - if you have the paperback copy, please check chapter 21, the scene between Harriet and Juliet, pages 358-363. A fantastic piece of writing where down-to-earth Juliet finally tells her sister exactly what she thinks of her fastidious and prudish ideas.
I strongly relate to this story in many ways, as I grew up in East London in one of the famous squares, all be it after the war, and many of the places mentioned were known to me in childhood. Those that survived the bombing, of course.
I strongly relate to this story in many ways, as I grew up in East London in one of the famous squares, all be it after the war, and many of the places mentioned were known to me in childhood. Those that survived the bombing, of course.
October 1, 2022
So many wonderful "real" characters, true to life hardships and that happy, optimistic attitude they had back in the good old days. Love the morals Harry Bowlings characters have. Thoroughly enjoyed.
July 16, 2010
Because I really didn't like 'That Summer In Eagle Street' (Another book by Harry) I was going to skip this. I'm so glad I didn't. It was such a great book. Gave you a good feel for the time. Got me a little teary in places. Well worth a read. Something which always strikes me about the time of the second world war is how neighbours really came together, everyone helps each other out. You don't see that nowdays. It's a shame :(
January 12, 2013
This book moves a bit slowly and its very long. The characters and plot never really held together-it was a bit like a bunch of old stories strung together.
May 18, 2016
Nice easy read about various families who all lived a square in south east London during WW2.
August 11, 2016
average
August 18, 2016
Great book
Reminded me of my childhood in Bermondsey South London in 50s and 60s . Many of the road names were similar but had been changed slightly . A really good read.
Reminded me of my childhood in Bermondsey South London in 50s and 60s . Many of the road names were similar but had been changed slightly . A really good read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews