Wild Hops

by Sally Worboyes

'She brings the East End to life' Barbara Windsor

An enthralling romantic saga and a vibrant tale of illicit love, firm friendships and the indomitable character of the East Enders.

'Sizzles with passion' Guardian

It is 1959 and the Armstrong family - Jack, Laura and their daughter, Kay - are setting off on their annual hop-picking holiday. Far from the bustle of Stepney, the Kent hop fields offer hard work but fresh clean air and lively social gatherings around the campfires. But picking by hand is becoming a thing of the past as mechanisation takes over.

While Jack leads the protest against the machines, Laura is otherwise will this mean the end of her seasonal love affair with the farm owner? And what of Kay who, on the brink of womanhood, craves adventure and creates turmoil when she and the handsome gypsy lad, Zacchi, meet in secret?
As tensions grow between the cockneys and the local Romanies, it becomes clear that this summer will change lives for ever . . .

464 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2001

About the author

Sally Worboyes was born and grew up in Stepney with four brothers and a sister, and she brings some of the raw history of her own family background to her East End sagas. She now lives in Norfolk with her husband, with whom she has three grown-up children. She has written several plays which have been broadcast on Anglia Television and Radio Four. She also adapted her own play and novel, WILD HOPS, as a musical, The Hop Pickers.

Reviews

[Maureen Farrugia · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book of a trilogy:)

[Asmaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

slow to start but then couldnt put it down