The Matchgirls of Bow
A Novel of the 1888 London Strike

About this book:

The stench of white phosphorus clings to every page of this searing novel, drawing you into the match factories of 1888 Bow—where fifteen-year-old Eliza Rose works fourteen-hour days for pennies, her fingers yellowed, her sister coughing in the next bed, and the threat of "phossy jaw" rotting the faces of girls beside her. When a city clerk slashes their piece-rates to feed a director's dividend, the matchgirls find themselves with nothing left to lose.

Eliza, sharp-tongued Martha, and terrified little Mary Dripping become the beating heart of a rebellion that spreads from the factory floor to Fleet Street and the floor of Parliament. With meticulous historical detail and unforgettable characters, *The Matchgirls of Bow* transforms a landmark labor uprising into an intimate story of sisterhood forged in fire—where a single spark becomes a blaze that forces the mighty Bryant & May empire to its knees.

Gritty, lyrical, and fiercely human, this is the story of the women who refused to be consumed by the very light they made. You will not forget their names.