'Dad, it's the happiest day of my life,' Kate said. 'I wish time would stand still and it could be today forever.' It's June 1897, and Kate is celebrating her eleventh birthday on the day of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Kate's joy is short-lived, as tragedy strikes, threatening her family with the loss of all they hold dear. A journey of hope and heartache follows which takes Kate from the hardships of the workhouse to the dubious comforts of a position in service to the rich; from the joys of marriage to a good man, to the sorrows and losses suffered during the Great War. Guided by her indomitable spirit and sense of humour, she discovers that it is possible to find contentment despite all that life throws at her.

Kate's Story

Literature & Fiction

Hopkins, Billy

Contemporary

Headline

Headline Book Publishing

Our Kid

Biographies & Memoirs

Magna Large Print Books

With charm, warmth and humour, Billy Hopkins tells the story of his beloved dad...  Tommy Hopkins' early years aren't very promising. Born at the end of the nineteenth century in a slum district of Manchester, he's blessed with loving parents, but they don't have two ha'pennies to rub together. At school, he and his friends plot money-making schemes and play lots of football, while learning enough to keep the teachers off their backs. Then, leaving the playground behind, Tommy finds employment in Manchester's Smithfield market, where he works his way up to become a porter, and where, amongst the young women who catch his eye, is Kate Lally - who may just be the love of his life.

Tommy's World

Anything Goes (The Hopkins Family Saga, Book 6): A wonderful tale about life in the 1960s

Whatever Next! (The Hopkins Family Saga, Book 7): An engaging tale of family life, marriage and retirement

Billy Hopkins' OUR KID, the first of his novels based on his experiences growing up in Manchester, has delighted hundreds of thousands of readers. 'How wonderful to have a book like this... A glimpse of a lost reality' Manchester Evening News 
It was on a Sunday night in 1928 that Billy Hopkins made his first appearance. Billy's tenement home on the outskirts of Manchester would be considered a slum today, but he lived there happily with his large Catholic family, hatching money-making schemes with his many friends. 
When war came, and the Luftwaffe dominated the night sky, Billy was evacuated to Blackpool. There he lived on a starvation diet while his own rations went to feed his landlady's children - 'I might as well be in Strangeways!' 
But even the cruel blows that were to be dealt to the family on his return to Manchester would not destroy Billy's fighting spirit - or his sense of humour.

Our Kid (The Hopkins Family Saga, Book 3): The funny and heart-warming story of a northern childhood

High Hopes (The Hopkins Family Saga, Book 4): An irresistible tale of northern life in the 1940s

Going Places (The Hopkins Family Saga, Book 5): An endearing account of bringing up a family in the 1950s

The bestselling author of the nostalgic classics OUR KID, HIGH HOPES and KATE'S STORY has based his engaging new novel on the fascinating and inspiring life of his father Tommy, born in a Manchester slum in 1886. Tommy Hopkins' early years aren't very promising. Born at the end of the nineteenth century in a slum district of Manchester, he's blessed with a loving, hard-working mam and dad, but they don't have two ha'pennies to rub together. In addition to suffering poverty, the family is struck by tragedy not once but twice. But Tommy is a survivor. At school he quickly makes lots of friends, and together they plot money-making schemes, settle scores and play lots of football. Then, at last, it's time to leave the playground behind. Denied the chance of a promising career as an engineer, Tommy instead finds employment at Manchester's Smithfield market and works his way up, finally becoming a porter. He's turning into a man, and amongst the young women who catch his eye is Kate Lally, who may just be the love of his life...

Tommy's World (The Hopkins Family Saga, Book 1): A warm and charming tale of life in northern England

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Books by Hopkins, Billy