The Boldness of Betty

Dublin 1913

My name is Betty Rafferty. A few weeks ago I had to leave school and go out to work in a cake shop, serving fancy cakes to rude, rich people. No choice.

But since then so much has happened. It all started when old Miss Warby took our pay away. And we walked out!

The whole city - well, all us union members - are going out on strike. Even my dog Earnshaw has joined in!

Life on the picket line in the lashing rain isn't much fun. Lots of people, like Peter Lawlor, just don't understand how unfair everything is. But we workers have to stand together - no matter what!

Auteur

ANNA CAREY is a journalist and author from Dublin who has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent and many other publications. Anna's first book, The Real Rebecca, was published in 2011, and went on to win the Senior Children's Book prize at the Irish Book Awards. Rebecca returned in the critically acclaimed Rebecca's Rules, Rebecca Rocks and Rebecca is Always Right. The Making of Mollie (2016) was her first historical novel and was shortlisted for the Senior Children's Book prize at the 2016 Irish Book Awards and was followed by the sequel, Mollie on the March, which received rave reviews. Anna's most recent book The Boldness of Betty was also shortlisted for the Senior Children's Book prize at the 2020 Irish Book Awards and features a cameo appearance from our favourite suffragette, Mollie.