- Title:
-
The Boldness of Betty
- Written by:
-
Anna Carey
- Read by:
-
Eva-Jane Gaffney
- Format:
-
Unabridged CD Audio Book
- Number of CDs:
-
10
- Duration:
-
11 hours 47 minutes
- Published:
-
June 01 2021
- Available Date:
-
June 01 2021
- Age Category:
-
Children (10+)
- ISBN:
-
9781867538264
- Genres:
-
Fiction; Children; Children's Fiction; Classics
- Publisher:
-
Bolinda/O'Brien audio
Qty
Format
Price
Bolinda price
Winner AudioFile Earphones Award 2021
The Boldness of Betty is the story of 14-year-old Betty Rafferty, who has just unwillingly left school and started working in a cake shop. Betty joins the Irish Women Workers' Union, and soon she's out on strike – along with thousands of others, as industrial unrest grips the city. How far will she go for her beliefs?
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!
'Carey’s lightness of touch means that descriptions of police brutality towards workers, or the hypocritical actions of Catholic pressure groups, are all the more shocking.'
Irish Times
'Packed with gentle humour and ideal for history-loving youngsters.'
Irish Independent
'Honestly, I find Anna Carey's novels give me courage and recalibrate my own political compass. Even though I'm not a YA, I LOVED this!'
Marian Keyes, international bestselling author
'Lovely for children up and going with their own reading.'
Sunday Independent
'Wonderful … giving me courage to keep on pushing for our rights today.'
Marian Keyes, international bestselling author
'Eva-Jane Gaffney is more actor than narrator in this stellar production. She laughs, cries, and even sings as she delivers the memoir of a fictional character's experiences during the 1913 workers' strike in Dublin. Betty Rafferty, a 14-year-old working-class shop girl, sounds like the friend you always wanted. Betty's family and friends take part in an uncompromising months-long struggle against unfair labor conditions. With her native Irish accent, Gaffney captures Betty's moods and qualities – she is fiercely loyal to family, friends, and union; wryly amusing as the put-upon babysitter of an annoying nephew; empathetic and consoling to beaten and homeless striking friends. Gaffney showcases various Irish accents and the code-switching that Betty and fellow workers employ when serving Dublin's elite society.'
AudioFile