Copyright © 1964 Claire Rayner
Copyright © 2011 M P Publishing Limited
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Rayner, Claire / Shilling a Pound Pears
A novel for children in 15 chapters
e-book - Stephen Holmes; 2011-06-08
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From the 1964 edition of this book.
Running a fruit barrow? Dead-easy thought the younger members of the Jackson and Cooper clan marooned in London for a hot and dusty summer. Even Jane, ever sober and practical, thought it could be done. Richard was dubious, but the thought of some pin-money to spend on his beloved car was a powerful incentive. Hilary was determined to have a go, if only for the sake of old Yossell. So they took it on.
That was the beginning. They hadn't reckoned on the murderously early hours, the jockeying for position at the wholesale market, the problems presented by rash purchases. It was lucky that Hilary had such a firm ally and guide in Peter Minsky. It was through Peter that they learned that someone coveted their pitch—someone who wouldn't (and didn't) hesitate to use every dirty trick in the trade.
This is a story of city streets, of hustling, bustling crowds in a district of London where people of all nations argue and joke and buy the day's meal off barrows in a street market. It has the jollity and vitality of a great metropolis, and some pretty rough moments as well. It is a story of quite ordinary young people, right now.
Also from the 1964 edition, About the author:
Claire Rayner is a Londoner born and bred, though she spent three years in Canada, supporting herself in a variety of odd jobs: waitress, summer stock, jewellery saleswoman, untrained aide in the Toronto Hospital for Sick Ghildren. This last job inspired her to come back to London to hopefully qualified as a nurse. She trained at the Royal Northern Hospital, Holloway, and has worked at Guy's, the Royal Free, and at the Whittington Hospital, Highgate in the Children's Unit.
She is married to an advertising executive, [Des], and with the birth of their first child — they now have two — she reluctantly gave up nursing. By that time, however, she had begun to write. She has published innumerable articles, a book for adults titled MOTHERS AND MIDWIVES, and a non-fiction account for children of WHAT HAPPENS IN HOSPITAL. She has broadcast, both on sound and television, and has been active in Youth Clubs.
This is her first novel for the young. It has nothing whatsoever to do with nursing, but purely with her own enjoyment of life, and her sympathy with the enthusiasms and problems of young people today.
Claire Rayner has written several books under the pseudonym, Shiela Brandon; these have now been e-published by MPP under her own name: include Doctors of Downlands, The Final Year, the Cottage Hospital.
Shilling a Pound Pears was her first book under her real name, (Final Year and Cottage Hospital preceded Shilling) and was originally published by Rupert Hart-Davis Ltd. with cover illustration by Kay Brewer. It sold for 13s 6d.
Thanks from MPP to Gloria Knecht, Maria Smith, and especially to Des Rayner.
Claire Rayner died in 2010, in her eightieth year; she is survived by her husband, Des, her three children Amanda, Adam and Jay, and four grand-children.