Alice from Tooting by Alice Mullen
Few working class women of Alice's generation wrote their autobiography, which includes harsh times in domestic service, gaining her ambition to become a nurse, marrying a widower and becoming a mother and step-mother and, eventually in old age living with her daughter Bertha in Chard. As well as general readers, this book is sought for first-hand information about housing conditions, female employment and social circumstances during Alice's lifetime.
The journal Oral History states: "Contrary to the contemporary myths about stable Victorian life, Alice records the break-up of her parents' marriage, a neighbour who was a rapist, the trials of being a stepmother and much more" Journal of Kent History: "It is inspiring to read of the willpower which overcame the appalling social and housing conditions experienced not only by the Mullen family but also thousands of working class people at that time." Other reviews included South London Press; photos features in Wimbledon News and Wandsworth Borough Guardian: and Local History journal which stated: "There are many tiny details of domestic life like the dogs who did not get on, or the toilet in the Boscombe lodging house with a picture of Windsor Castle in blue painted on the bowl. Domestic service is shown to be full of pitfalls, with housekeepers helping themselves to food or being too fond of alcohol."
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780951696040 |
| ISBN 10 | 0951696041 |
| Title | Alice from Tooting |
| Author | Alice Mullen |
| Series | Ordinary Lives |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Plowright Press |
| Year published | 1997-06-23 |
| Number of pages | 206 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |