The Girl Now Leaving — Betty Burton

 Featuring “a typical Betty Burton heroine . . . Strong, independent,” this historical saga chronicles a woman's rise from her impoverished circumstances (Dorset Echo).
 
A heart-wrenching and powerful coming of age story set in the early twentieth century.
 
Lu Wilmott grows up in the Portsmouth slums of the 1920s. Stricken by diphtheria, she is sent to the Hampshire countryside where she discovers a robust fighting spirit and the first stirrings of attraction . . .
But then she must follow her mother into the city's grim corset-making trade. Lu realizes that things must change. And she can make it happen.

Her journey from shy child to energetic woman encompasses love, deep friendship, and a growing political awareness. Above all, Lu is a survivor -- and one to be reckoned with.

“It is encouraging when someone like Betty Burton manages against the odds to become a roaring success.” -- The Guardian