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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.
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!Boxing Day Baby
Author(s): Barbara Chapman
Published: 1994
Barbara Chapman was born in Brighton on a snowy Boxing Day in 1927 and in this autobiography, she reminisces about her early childhood; focusing on her memories of home and school, and the effects of the Second World War on herself, her family, and the community. Barbara shares her experiences of working life in the Brighton area; telling stories of her jobs, including her work as a waitress and a telephonist at the Old Ship Hotel. She recollects vividly a bygone era, narrating her life history with honesty, humour and charm and invoking for the reader a very personal impression of the city during the early 1930s and 1940s.The Circle of Life - A woman’s life in Brighton
Author(s): Olive Masterson
Published: 1986
This is Olive Masterson's tale of growing up in the Richmond Road area of Brighton between the Wars. Surrounded by her close-knit family and friends, she was the youngest child of four, and lived a varied and interesting life. In her narrative, she voices the hopes and fears that she experienced in making the often difficult transition from childhood to adulthood. Olive had many occupations; from working in a uniform factory to being a machinist in a gown shop near Preston Circus. She recounts the trials and tribulations of an ordinary hardworking Brightonian woman, who dealt stoically with the many problems she faced in her life, including diphtheria in the family and the ill-health of her father, who was the principal wage-earner.From Circle to Spiral - A writers' handbook and anthology
Author(s): AB, Sarah Griffiths, Lorna Jones, Kate Mackrell, Jane Malone, Maria Ragusa, Pippa Scott
Published: 1995
From Circle to Spiral is about the enjoyment of the writing process and the personal satisfaction that can be gained from it. It reveals the insights that creative writing can bring and also provides a useful, practical guide to a method of working that may be helpful to budding writers. The reader is taken on an exciting journey of self-discovery, examining themes that are grouped in terms of paired dichotomies, such as "hedonism and abstinence", "excitement and serenity", "independence and intimacy" and "shame and pride". The product of a QueenSpark writing group consisting of seven women who spent two hours per week exchanging ideas and writing together in a mutually supportive environment, it can be viewed as a testament to the positive benefits that can be gained through the medium of creative writing.Flying Sparks
Author(s): Tim Wren
Published: 1998
This autobiography depicts the trials and tribulations experienced by a hard-working apprentice electrician, as well as documenting times of laughter and fun. Tim Wren was fourteen when he left school and started work in wartime Brighton. In time, the opportunity arose to become a full apprentice and 'go out on the tools'. Tim's work took him to many different places, including the Royal Pavilion, when it was converted into an army hospital for Indian soldiers and an Italian prisoner of war camp in Billingshurst, West Sussex. However, if the truth be told, Tim seemed to spend most of his working hours with his colleagues, frequenting the teashops of Brighton!Tales from the Sanctuary - An anthology of readings from a QueenSpark Performance Evening
Author(s): Shirley Beckett, Danny Birchall, John Cranfield, Sonia Ctvrtecka, Cyril Daugy, Julie Everton, Sue Long, Simon Jenner, Lorna Jones, Nick Osmond, Sam Royce, Tim Shelton-Jones, Nicola Schouten, John Sitzia, John Tatum, Arthur Thickett, Deb Thomas, Alistair Thomson
Published: 1995
This is an anthology of readings that were given at a QueenSpark performance evening. The recital took place at the Sanctuary cafe in Hove, which is a popular location for community events. For some people, this was the first time they had read aloud in public, although this was not reflected in their performances! The work, however, does reflect the diversity of QueenSpark members. It includes prose and poetry, humorous and sad contributions; some brief, others far longer. In short, there is enough material in this collection to suit every reader's taste - an impressive anthology, featuring a truly inspirational body of work.Rare book
Paper on the Wind
Author(s): QueenSpark women writers
Published: 1984
This anthology contains poetry and prose from a QueenSpark Women's group. This was a group of women aged between 20 and 64 years, who met regularly to write and partake in group discussions and workshops. There is a strong feminist influence to the issues that are covered, encompassing the empowerment of women, particularly in today's world, when women have to balance multiple tasks in their daily lives. Paper on the Wind is relevant to all people regardless of age, disability, gender, religion and sexual orientation. It offers a forum for people to explore and experiment with their own creative writing processes and to take the necessary steps that will enable people to start writing for themselves, as well as providing encouragement to all those budding writers out there!International Service
Author(s): Kathleen Wilson
Published: 2002
With wartime Brighton as a backdrop, International Service tells the tale of Kathleen Wilson's naive teenage years, when her domineering father chose the jobs that she took and discouraged her passion for writing. It covers the time she spent working in family-run shops, through to her years at the International Stores in Preston Road and brings to life the atmosphere of the grocery trade in the period up to the 1950s. With her light-hearted and often humorous style, International Service enabled Kathleen to share her life story with the reader, who can follow her progression towards independence.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.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.