The Boldness of Betty: A 1913 Dublin Lockout Novel

by Anna Carey

Dublin 1913

My name is Betty Rafferty. A few weeks ago I had to leave school and go out to work in a cake shop, serving fancy cakes to rude, rich people. No choice.

But since then so much has happened. It all started when old Miss Warby took our pay away. And we walked out!

The whole city – well, all us union members – are going out on strike. Even my dog Earnshaw has joined in!

Life on the picket line in the lashing rain isn’t much fun. Lots of people, like Peter Lawlor, just don’t understand how unfair everything is. But we workers have to stand together – no matter what!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Ireland, Young Adult

416 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2020

About the author

Anna Carey is a freelance journalist from Drumcondra in Dublin who has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent and many other publications. Anna joined her first band when she was fifteen and went on to sing and play with several bands over the next fifteen years. Her last band, El Diablo, released two albums and toured all over the country.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly engaging and entertaining YA voice, Betty (who loves reading and dreams of going off to college although she knows it's not financially possible) leaves school and begins her working life in a tearoom. But life in 1913 Dublin is tough for working people, and soon, their terrible conditions and the conflict between Union and Employer make difficult choices. Learn something about Irish history, trade unions and Bloody Sunday, in the capable and chatty hands of Betty Rafferty, our heroine. An enjoyable and exciting read

[Mary Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in Bettys’ own voice as she reaches towards her dream of being a writer, beginning with this memoir, a fascinating picture of life during the Dublin Lockout emerges with insight and feeling. While this is a work of fiction, it has a vision of historical accuracy woven through its’ strands. The portrayal of Betty and her family and friends rings true against this background with all its’ hardships, hopes and dreams and is highly relatable even today. All the confusion and determination of young adult life is relayed in genuine voice. The plot builds steadily with perfect flow, taking us from drama to crisis to resolution and back again. And it is an intriguing read; full of life, heart and reality. An absolutely marvelous book!

[Maja ND · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much, but I feel like I needed more of an ending, for example her crush on___( I’m not going to spoil it). More things are incomplete but I don’t want to spoil it. Maybe the writer meant that. And Maybe there will be a second book but I’m not sure because in the end of the lockout, (in real life not the book) the employers declared victory. Although I loved the characters and Betty was so inspiring. I cried so much when Lily and Little Robbie came back from the train. Great Book.

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book because as well as giving accurate information about the union it has a storyline and is still fiction. The characters are all described well in thus soptory and as the story progress th characters personality is shown to the reader.

[Beau Brannick · Rating 5 out of 5]

YA fiction - Needed some good smooth brain reading and this was exactly what I wanted. A really wonderful book with historical accuracies woven in! Covers topics such as strikes, poverty, racism told from the perspective of a teenager.

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
An absolutely brilliant read.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fictional account of the Dublin worker’s strike in 1913, something I’d never even heard of before.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great book about the 1913 Lockout, a subject which I embarrassingly didn't know that much about. Would recommend it for readers over the age of about 10.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an inspiring book. Would definitely read it again.

[robin ní dubhchonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love betty & samira sm

[Ella Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved it i have read it about 20 times now and thats not an exaggeration
i am irish but i was not born in 1899 like betty so this book was perfect to understand what it was like to live in 1913
i love betty and samira i hope i'm spelling her name right