About A Cockney Rosebud: A bittersweet journey in the midst of the life and community of an East End of London family (circa 1920 – 1960)
Enchanting Rosie is born post-World War 1—1920—but into what? Those few (male) breadwinners who returned from the bloody combat would find the East End of London Docklands, ravaged, with little hope of regular work—if they could work, with life-changing injuries and psychological trauma.
The women remained strong, but in quiet despair. Families and communities supported each other, with their futures in question. Mothers reigned supreme, but alcohol and the public houses exerted their influence. Rosie might have changed the world. With talent, unfailing family and community bonds, and strong matriarchal role models, she had a chance. But the family was dysfunctional, and bonds break as families are distanced and communities scattered, and her time to bloom fades—with World War 2—into the war-torn earth.
Journey with Rosie’s memoir, through her childhood and formative years—1920s/1930s/1940s—as she captures her eternal memories, and I share them in this biography. Share her grief as her close family, home, possessions and history are wiped out, faith is tested to breaking point, and her dreams and ambitions are torn from her soul. But, also, wallow in the nostalgia of days past. Times without the internet and mobile phones. Times when children played in abandonment—and in the fresh air. Explore the social history of bygone days, of knitting, talking, cooking and wearing hats—and the lives of the proud East Enders. And rejoice that Rosie makes it through.
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Josie, born in the early 1950s in rural Essex, was raised in the resilient yet modest environment of post-war social housing. From an early age, she displayed an exceptional aptitude for academics, though she often felt like an outsider. Her love for literature became her sanctuary, where she challenged herself with the classics, including reading “War and Peace” not once, but twice, to fully grasp its complexities. Choosing a pen name inspired by her affection for dogs, Josie brings a keen observational eye and deep emotional insight to her writing. Her debut book is a poignant tribute to her mother, who lived to the remarkable age of 100. Now, Josie is channelling her life experiences—the recent past being marked by personal battles with breast cancer, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, and chronic neuropathy—into her forthcoming works, the first of which is tentatively titled ‘Chemo Run-off’. This new story explores the endless quest for fulfilment through the eyes of a lonely young girl. Josie writes with a profound awareness that each day is precious, and she is committed to sharing her stories with readers who appreciate both the light and dark sides of life. Her work is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, and she aims to continue captivating her audience with stories that resonate on a deeply human level.