Gods of Gold

by Chris Nickson

  ‘Happy, Mrs Harper?’

  She pulled him close and kissed him.

  ‘I am. And I’ll be even happier when I take off this corset. It’s killing me.’

  AFTERWORD

  There really was a gas strike in Leeds in 1890 and the workers did win. They had to make a few minor concessions, but it was essentially a total victory and a humiliation for the Gas Committee of Leeds Council.

  Tom Maguire did work with the union and he was also a photographer’s assistant. A relatively unsung Leeds radical and early socialist, he was also a published poet who died, too young, in 1895.

  The character of Annabelle is based on a distant relative of mine – or at least on my father’s stories of her, although the real person lived a good twenty-five years later. She did rise from servant to mistress at the Victoria in Sheepscar (which now sadly no longer exists) and owned several bakeries. My father wrote a novel about her that was never published, so this is my homage to them both.

  Several people read an early version of this, and I’m grateful to Laura Woods, Rev David Messer, Nevine Henein and others for their thoughts and time. Thanks to everyone at Severn House/Crème de la Crime for their faith, especially Kate Lyall Grant, Michelle Duff and Rachel Simpson who all work tirelessly for their authors. I truly appreciate it. Also much gratitude to my editor and friend, Lynne Patrick, and to my writing guru, Thom Atkinson. Perhaps he’s finally starting to receive the credit for his work that’s long overdue. Last, but not least, to Leeds Libraries, the Leeds Library and to Leeds Book Club for their ongoing support. And to Penny, of course.

  Thanks also to you for reading this.