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Digital Audiobook
The Soup Kitchen Girl by Libby Ashworth

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The Soup Kitchen Girl

Narrator
Katy Sobey
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley Ltd
Publish Date
17 September 2026
Run Time
7 hours 58 minutes
Format
Audiobook

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What to expect

With the closure of the cotton mills, the rich become poor and the poor even poorer

Sally Grimes is a mill girl, the eldest of a family of six surviving children. When the mills stop work completely, they have nothing left to live on. The family decide to emigrate to America where the mills are looking for workers.

Ruth Hodgson's father has a confectionery business, but the workers are not buying luxuries and his business is in ruins. He is given the job of supervising the soup kitchen, but when he falls ill, it is up to Ruth to persuade the relief committee that she is capable of taking on the work in his place.

Caroline Haworth is the daughter of a local mill owner. She volunteers at the soup kitchen but they are running out of money. The only solution is accepting a loan from the wealthy Dutton family, but it comes with strings attached.

Can the three woman from different classes come together in difficult times?

A captivating Victorian Saga filled with love, female resilience and friendship for listeners of Dilly Court and Mollie Walton.

Libby Ashworth was born and raised in Lancashire and comes from many generations of mill workers. It was while researching her family history that she realised there were so many stories about ordinary working people that she wanted to tell.

Katy Sobey is a seasoned narrator who has narrated over 280 audiobooks. Her roster of audiobooks includes, children’s books, saga, crime, romance and fantasy fiction. Most notably she has narrated two of Nami Novik’s books.

© 2026 Libby Ashworth (P) 2026 DK Audio

Critics Review

  • This was such a good read...Sally, Ruth and Caroline grew on me very quickly and felt like friends - I could read a whole series about them!

    Emma Hornby, bestselling saga author of the Worktown Girls at War series

User Reviews

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Details

Author
Libby Ashworth
Narrator
Katy Sobey
Duration
7 hours 58 minutes
Release Date
17 September 2026
ISBN
9780241848562
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley Ltd
Genre
Family saga / generational saga fiction

Synopsis

With the closure of the cotton mills, the rich become poor and the poor even poorerSally Grimes is a mill girl, the eldest of a family of six surviving children. When the mills stop work completely, they have nothing left to live on. The family decide to emigrate to America where the mills are looking for workers.Ruth Hodgson's father has a confectionery business, but the workers are not buying luxuries and his business is in ruins. He is given the job of supervising the soup kitchen, but when he falls ill, it is up to Ruth to persuade the relief committee that she is capable of taking on the work in his place.Caroline Haworth is the daughter of a local mill owner. She volunteers at the soup kitchen but they are running out of money. The only solution is accepting a loan from the wealthy Dutton family, but it comes with strings attached.Can the three woman from different classes come together in difficult times?A captivating Victorian Saga filled with love, female resilience and friendship for listeners of Dilly Court and Mollie Walton.Libby Ashworth was born and raised in Lancashire and comes from many generations of mill workers. It was while researching her family history that she realised there were so many stories about ordinary working people that she wanted to tell.Katy Sobey is a seasoned narrator who has narrated over 280 audiobooks. Her roster of audiobooks includes, children’s books, saga, crime, romance and fantasy fiction. Most notably she has narrated two of Nami Novik’s books.© 2026 Libby Ashworth (P) 2026 DK Audio

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