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QueenSpark Books Archive - Free Full Text Books
A unique searchable archive of the books published by QueenSpark Books up until 2010. Free to view and full text this collection features voices that tell the story of Brighton and Hove, across the 20th Century, in their own words. The majority of these titles are now out-of-print.
You can buy those still in-print, and newer titles, with this link.
Out of the Blue and blues
Author(s): Katherine J Browne
Published: 1975
This book, which consists of both poetry and prose, features the reminiscences of Katherine Browne. Katherine's story, which encompasses the entire spectrum of the human psyche, tells of the many pitfalls she encountered on her life's journey. It also shows that anybody can write, if they are sufficiently determined and given encouragement. Of particular interest in Katherine's narrative is her account of her war work as a Billeting Officer in Liverpool, in which she provides vivid descriptions of people's homes and lives during those turbulent and poverty-stricken times.The Lone Rangers - Single Parents' Writing Project
Author(s): Karen Clark, Dawn Evans, Liz Ezra, Miranda Frost, Sharon Halsall, Lorna Jones, Sophie March, Shirley May
Published: 1995
Seven single parents share their personal hopes, fears, struggles and achievements on their respective journeys through parenthood. The book focuses on the challenges they face, particularly when taking on the role of both mother and father in their children's lives. It acknowledges the effort and energy required of them, as they make important life choices about their children's schooling and welfare. The book is especially interesting because it documents what it means to live in an era where, unfortunately, discrimination can still exist. This is a must for every single parent in our community!Alt-History - New Writing from Brighton
Author(s): Michael Acton, Emily Atkinson-Dalton, Ed Bell, John Bourne, Bryony Cleary, Joanne Dearden, Rachel Grant, Jane Hansford, Grace Judge, Andrew Kearsley, Barnaby O'Rorke, Neil Palmer, Rob Paraman, J T Sellers, Stephen Silverwood, Mark Wilkinson, Joe Young, Kjell Yri
Published: 2005
This diverse collection consists of fifteen stories by new writers, including five pieces of work by young authors under the age of twelve. The aim of the publication is to allow people the opportunity to write their own versions of ‘histories' of Brighton and Hove and the material includes fictional accounts of real places and events from Brighton and Hove's past, both distant and more recent. The tales include the humorous, the poignant and the surreal and provide a glimpse into an alternative world, highlighting the eccentric and heroic people from the Brighton area. It is hoped that they will be enjoyed by both a local and a wider audience.School Reports - Past Pupil's Memories of St Luke's
Author(s): Past pupils of St. Luke's school
Published: 2003
This book contains reminiscences and anecdotes from past pupils who attended St. Luke's School, in the Queens Park area of Brighton in the years between 1908 - 1983. It contains an eclectic mix of anecdotes that express both fond memories and less happy recollections of pupils' schoolday experiences and the reality of belonging to a close-knit community. It also provides the reader with valuable first-hand accounts of the changing education system during that period, covering the First form through to the Sixth form.I do like to be beside the Seaside - Writing from a weekend at Corsica Hall, Seaford July 1993
Author(s): Various
Published: 1994
This selection of creative writing is the cumulative work of fifty people, who attended a writing weekend in Seaford, East Sussex in July 1993. There were four workshops in total, including one on autobiography and personal histories, one on poetry, one on storytelling from images and one on drama. From the beginning of the course, a sense of warmth, trust and mutual support was established which helped to foster the creative output that is published in this book. It is a testimony and celebration to a few very special days spent by the sea that proves how inspirational the sea air can be.Teatime Tales - The Pavilion Gardens Cafe Interviews
Author(s): Harry Hillery, Glenn Stevens, Robin Tulley, Libdsey Tydeman, Peter Oakes, Maxine Badger, Cara Redlich, Iain Cameron Williams, Cecelia Rose, Dorian Vaughan, Karen McMillan, Rob Cohen, Roslyn Cook, Kahn Priestly and Jessica Wallace
Published: 2011
The Pavilion Gardens Cafe, like the Royal Pavilion across the Gardens, is a unique Brighton institution. Throughout the last seventy years, it has offered refreshment, relaxation and a certain kind of charm to tens of thousands of visitors from around the world. The Café also attracts a fascinating clientele of local people, and it is some of their 'Teatime Tales' that are featured here for the very first time.A Life behind Bars
Author(s): Marjory Batchelor
Published: 1999
Born in 1908 at the Marquess of Exeter public house, which was run by her parents, Marjory Batchelor spent her working life as a barmaid and pub landlady in and around the Brighton area. Marjory recalls her experiences of the licensed trade through two World Wars up to the present day. From the days of spit ‘n' sawdust and horse-drawn drays, to the arrival of fruit machines and ‘pub grub' – Marjory remembers it all with humour and affection. Her account documents the many changes that have taken place in pub life in Marjory's lifetime, and provides an interesting social history of the industry, through first-hand experience.A Working Man - A Century of Hove Memories
Author(s): Ernie Mason
Published: 1998
One winter in the 1980s, Ernie Mason was at a loose end, so he bought a notebook and began to write his autobiography. This story encapsulates a working-class man's journey through life over the course of the twentieth century, documenting the many changes that took place in the local environment and in social conditions. Born in 1906, Ernie lived all his life in Hove, except for a short period spent in the Navy during the war years. His childhood was spent in a neighbourhood that was full of market gardens, orchards and fields. Ernie recalls vivid memories of growing up, of his working life and finally of retirement after sixty years of work, having begun his working life at the tender age of eleven. The narrative not only provides a unique personal history, but also depicts a largely forgotten way of life in a bygone era.Blighty Brighton - Photographs and memories of Brighton in the First World War
Author(s): Various
Published: 1991
Sadly out of print, this book (produced in collaboration with the Lewis Cohen Urban Studies Centre), is all about memories of Brighton during the First World War. Through an examination of ephemera such as posters, photographs, pictures, songs and personal recollections, it portrays a collective memory of the city. Photographs are central to this work; for example Brighton Museum, Preston Manor and Brighton Reference Library are all featured pictorially. This book provides a valuable and important source of local history - a must for all those passionate about the city and its historical roots!To be a Farmer’s Boy
Author(s): George Noakes
Published: 1977
This tells of George Noakes's childhood and early adult working life before he married Daisy, author of The Town Beehive and The Faded Rainbow, in 1934. George reminisces about his childhood farm memories and forays to the local shops and surrounding areas; for example, when he visited the local bakers, he always knew that a sugar bun would be given to him. When he was old enough to be trusted outside, he ventured everywhere. In short, he had an idyllic childhood, in an era where children had much more freedom to roam "without today's safety worries" and he progressed from a boy into a happy adolescent and adult.