Ridley Road
- Author Jo Bloom
- Narrator Harriet Carmichael
- Publisher Orion
- Run Time 8 hours and 30 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Fiction: general and literary, Modern and contemporary fiction, Religious and spiritual fiction, Romance, Thriller / suspense fiction.
Titles Purchased
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- Over 20
Price p/Title
- £7.99
- £6.99
- £5.99
- £4.99
- £3.99
Listen to a sample
What to expect
All Vivien has to go is one letter Jack sent to her father, the address of a boarding house scribbled hastily on the back, and very soon her hopes of finding him are dashed. Resigned to this fact, she settles into London life, working in Oscar's - a hairdressing salon in Soho - and spending her nights at home with her motherly landlady. But still, she pines for Jack.
That is, until she becomes involved in the resurgence of anti-facism through the owner of Oscar's, Barb, and her husband Alan. When Alan takes her to a rally in Trafalgar Square and Vivien finally spots Jack amidst the crowds. At long last they lock eyes. And here their story begins again.
Read by Harriet Carmichael
(p) 2014 Orion Publishing Group
Critics Review
-
Bloom has uncovered an episode in London’s history that deserves to be better known, and her research has thrown up some appalling events…the subject matter alone makes for a thought-provoking read
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY -
A vivid, cinematic and exciting debut
RED magazine 'Book of the Month' -
Well-researched, convincingly evocative of an exciting era and covers events of which most people will have little awareness. It’s also a timely warning against the dangers of the insidious rhetoric against people of a different race or nationality, which is rearing its ugly head again
DAILY MAIL -
A stirring story of the darker side of the 60s
SUNDAY MIRROR -
The 62 Group were a real organisation, as were the two fascist groups mentioned in the novel. It’s a little-known aspect of Britain’s history and it brings a great deal of drama to Bloom’s story, as well as social interest. These are unpleasant and shocking politics to explore, but they are handled well. At the lighter end of the social history scale, Ridley Road also conjures a great picture of Soho’s early-Sixties jazz-and-caffeine buzz
EMERALD STREET -
The tumultuous 1960s is the setting for Jo Bloom’s insightful novel Ridley Road – an exploration into an important, interesting and crucial narrative in British history, the Jewish community and fascism that hasn’t yet received due attention in fiction… Readers too are likely to have their eyes opened by this fascinating novel, which although fictitious, obviously takes inspiration from real contexts and situations. While the love story draws readers into the novel, it is the growing tension and drama of the political and social contexts that make this a really gripping read
WE LOVE THIS BOOK
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