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Sally Spencer
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Salt of the Earth: A superbly nostalgic and heartwarming saga of families, hope and drama Kindle Edition

by Sally Spencer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 64 ratings

The first novel in the wonderful East End saga from the author of UP OUR STREET

Becky Taylor is born the last of seven children into a poor working class family during the heyday of the Industrial Revolution. Her mother is exhausted by poverty and child-bearing; her father has given the best years of his life to Worrells salt works as a miner. But in spite of the hardships, Becky grows up in a family full of warmth, loyalty and determination.

Spanning twenty, this is at once a family saga and a story of the indomitable working class spirit; it is also the story of a beautiful women who is determined to rise about her origins and lead a better life. Her challenge is to achieve her dreams without losing the friends and family to whom she owes everything.

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  1. Print length
    407 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Orion
  4. Publication date
    July 26, 2012
  5. File size
    1.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B008FQ1AXW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orion (July 26, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 26, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 407 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 64 ratings

About the author

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Sally Spencer

Sally Spencer

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Sally Spencer is a pen name, first adopted when the author (actually called Alan Rustage) was writing sagas and it was almost obligatory that a woman's name appeared on the cover (other authors like Emma Blair and Mary Jane Staples are also men). However, Alan uses James Garcia Woods as his pen name for the mysteries set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War.

Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a teacher. In 1978-79 he was working in Iran and witnessed the fall of the Shah. He got used to having rifles - and, one occasion, a rocket launcher - pointed at him by both soldiers and revolutionaries, but he was never entirely comfortable with it.

He lived in Madrid for over twenty years, and still considers it the most interesting and exciting city he has ever visited, but for the last few years he has opted for a quieter life in the seaside town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.

His first series of books were historical sagas set in Cheshire (where he grew up) and London. They were very popular with his English readers, but his American readers find the dialect something of a strain.

He has written twenty books featuring DCI Woodend (a character based partly on a furniture dealer he used to play dominoes with) and thirteen (so far!) about Woodend's protegé Monika Paniatowski. His DI Blackstone books are set in Victorian/Edwardian London, New York and Russia, and the DI Ruiz books have as their backdrop the Spanish Civil War.

Alan is a competitive games player who likes bridge and pub quizzes. It is only by enforcing iron discipline that he doesn't play video games all the time.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
64 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Nancy C
    5.0 out of 5 stars Draws you in
    Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    An enjoyable beginning to a saga that draws you into the character's, time period and town. I look forward to the next book and recommend this first book. I have read several other books by this author and have not been disappointed yet.
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  • Fredie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Salt of the Earth
    Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I love Sally Spencer's books
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  • Donna Carvell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining
    Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2014
    Absolute gem of a book. Wonderful short stories, some with laugh out loud moments, but all giving glimpses into moments in the lives of some wonderful characters. Highly recommend it.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • scottie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Salt of the earth
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Wonderful book. Sorry when I had finished it. Would recommend it to anyone. It made it more interesting as I live in the area.
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  • fluffy howard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    Have read most of Sally Spencer books and every one so far has been excellent. Will be keeping an eye open for a new one.
    Report
  • Pet_Bookworm
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great bookseller, the book itself is something of a curiosity
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    The delivery and condition of the book were both fine - no problems at all, happy with the seller. The book itself is interesting and quite thought-provoking, though very much a reflection of the 1960s and not a very convincing historical novel about Jesus of Nazareth.
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  • DENISE WILSON
    5.0 out of 5 stars Would recommend
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Well written, you are drawn into the lives of the people. I especially enjoyed it as I grew up in the area
    Report

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