Men's Wives

In the lively world of a modest London inn called the Bootjack, the Crump family runs a tiny empire of hospitality, gossip, and theatre‑filled ambition. Mr Crump, a former boot‑boy turned landlord, proudly displays his humble origins while his wife, Mrs Crump, presides over a parlor walls awash with portraits of dancers and the latest theatrical gossip. Their daughter, Morgiana, bursts with a powerful, if sometimes off‑key, voice, rehearsing the day’s popular numbers on a red‑silk piano and dreaming of the stage.

The novel follows this eccentric household as they navigate the intersecting currents of conservative patronage, the bustling entertainment scene, and their own aspirations. With witty observations of London’s social clubs and a dash of theatrical intrigue, the story captures the charm and chaos of a family whose lives are as much a performance as the shows they adore. Listeners will enjoy the vivid portrait of an era where a bootjack can hold the key to both respectable business and flamboyant ambition.