London Undercurrents

London Undercurrents is a collaboration by two London-based female poets, Joolz Sparkes and Hilaire. Discover the hidden histories of London’s unsung heroines, north and south of the river, as each poet focuses on her different patch of London – Joolz north of the river and Hilaire, south. The collection features poems about many Battersea women, including Charlotte Despard, Ida and Louise Cook, and lady cyclists in Battersea Park. 152 pages; price includes UK postage and handling.

Published by Holland Park Press. ISBN: 978-1-907320-82-8

REVIEWS

“This collection scores highly because of its unusual subject matter, its slice of social history, striking vocabulary and clever wordplay. Above all, it fills a gap in our understanding of the conditions under which women worked north and south of the river. Joolz Sparkes and Hilaire have not only come up with a brilliant idea, they have executed it with panache.”

Neil Leadbeater, WriteOutLoud

“The Thames runs through it. North and south of the famous river lie the “hidden histories” of mostly forgotten women. London Undercurrents brings them vividly back into our literary consciousness in this remarkable collection, written and compiled by two of the city’s female poets… What emerges through these evocative and accessible poems is a unique urban chronicle that is a joy to engage with.”

Karina Magdalena, Cape Times, 7 June 2019

“Wherever women have tilled, toiled, laughed, suffered or survived, Hilaire and Sparkes follow, with empathy and imagination… The poets have tapped into a rich array of character and circumstance and transformed it, with exuberance and clarity, into poetry which is fresh and accessible.”

Claire Booker, Ink Sweat and Tears

"The richness and variety, intrigue and emotion, together provides an illustration of London as a tumultuous and exhilarating place, occupied by women throughout its history who have built and shaped its terrain from the bottom up and from the top down.”

Laura Tansley, Litro Magazine