Won on goodreads and recieved in the post =)

Very well done. This was a real step into history, and although fiction, it felt very real of the times (as far as I imagine them). It is about real people from history, following the times of the communism theory men Karl Marx and Frederick Engels; but told from the perspective of Lizzie Burns, Engel's common-law wife. So even if you're not particularly interested in the political and social history side of things, this is good to read if only for Lizzie Burn's voice. She's a fantastic down-to-earth character who sees things how they are, and isn't fooled by any idealistic nonsense. Because althought there's all this fighting going on for the common man, free states, equal rights etc etc - it's all done with the biggest injustice of them all right infront of their noses and completely ignored: the rights of women. And another thing that impressed me is that this is a first novel, by a guy, and he's got this first person narrative of this very strong willed woman, and it felt like he'd gone it just right.

So really, this is the life story of Lizzie Burns, as told by herself. Born in Manchester, of Irish origin, she grew up as a mill girl along with her elder sister, Mary. The mill they worked at was owned by the Engels family. The son, Frederick, came over to start learning the running of the business. But Engel's head was full of saving the working classes, so he got to know the employees, and became entwined with the Burns girls as much as he'd allow himself to be entwined with anyone. He didn't "believe" in the institution of marriage, which was ok for a man to say in those days, but not easy for a woman (another thing that never seems to cross his mind during his great idealogical fights).

Interesting story in itself, but also leaves you with plenty to think about.

I hope to take this into town on Wednesday with some other books to donate to charity.