On New Year’s Day 1925 Ivy Rose Murphy awakes to find her world changed forever. Her irresponsible Da is dead. She is grief-stricken and alone – but for the first time in her life free to please herself. After her mother deserted the family, Ivy became the sole provider for her da and three brothers. Pushing a pram around the well-to-do areas of Dublin every day, she begged for the discards of … discards of the wealthy which she then turned into items she could sell around Dublin’s markets.
As she visits the morgue to pay her respects to her Da, a chance meeting introduces Ivy to a new world of money and privilege, her mother’s world. Ivy is suddenly a woman on a mission to improve herself and her lot in life.
Jem Ryan is the owner of a livery near Ivy’s tenement. When an accident occurs in one of his carriages, leaving a young girl homeless, it is Ivy he turns to. With Jem and the people she meets in her travels around Dublin, Ivy begins to break out of the poverty-ridden world that is all she has ever known.
Through Streets Broad and Narrow is a story of strength and determination in the unrelenting world that was Dublin tenement life.
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I loved this book and have read all in the series. I wanted a good story and uplifting experience and found both with this series.
This presents the story of the lower classes in their struggle to survive in the back streets of Dublin. The heroine is the daughter of a handsome but lazy man who managed to marry above his station, and how his upper-class wife taught “high-toned” speech and manners to her daughter and oldest child. The daughter grew up street-wise and made the living for her father and brothers after her mother left the family when the daug.hter was eight years old. The brothers left as soon as they could manage, but their sister stayed. She made many friends who helped her start bringing the community into better circumstances. The beginning of a series I will want to follow.
Lovely historical fiction. I love Ivy Murphy!
The e-book needs proper formatting, it’s difficult to read the way it is.
As for the story, it’s a good story, well written, with a very sympathetic main character. I enjoyed the book a lot.
Enjoyed the adventures and the way poor on Ireland managed
Totally enjoyed reading about Ivy and her neighbor’s on the The Lane, albeit dragged on a bit it was still entertaining.
I loved this book and the entire series. Great character development!
This series is one of the best I have ever read! So sorry when I got to the end.
Reading this book was like watching an old BBC series about detectives. So full of funny British sayings and humor! I’m British so thought it was hilarious! A lot of the quirky sayings would be lost on someone not from GB.
It was very simply written. A fast read.
The first half was great. The second half was not that good. Very disappointing
Very much enjoyed this book and the characters in it. I would read more of this author. Good descriptions of life among the very poor in Dublin, but with a happy ending.
Wonderfully detailed characters. Historically accurate. Very well written. Looking forward to continuing series.
Loved it! I recommend it.
I liked it because it had a positive vibe. I appreciated the fact that there were no racy scenes or foul language. Pretty simple story but entertaining enough. The characters were likable.
The struggles we encounter are so real but Ivy takes all the punches but shes still standing to better herself despite the odds against her the sense of sharing the little she has with others it makes one think because God blesses those who give selflessly she does not expect a favour in return.this character kept me on my toes the happenings in their area just make me laugh and cry at the same time gemma you’ve got a new fan
Well written, with excellent character development. The plot is a page-turner!
Good characters. Persons wiyh imagination and determination.
Gemma Jackson’s book, Streets Broad and Narrow, the first in her 4-book series, is a rich tale of life in Ireland in the 1920s and the challenges the poor faced as well as the strength needed to rise above and survive. Jackson’s ability to create a wonderful cast of characters must, in part, stem from her detailed research of the time period. A book not to miss!
Great book with wonderful characters shining through adversity!!!
Eager to read next in series!