The Family from One End Street by Eve Garnett #1937Club

Title: The Family from One End Street
Author and Illustrator: Eve Garnett
Publication: Vanguard Press, hardcover, originally published in 1937
Genre: Juvenile
Setting: England

Description: The Ruggles are a large and carefree family living in Otwell, in Southeastern England. Mr. Ruggles is a dustman (garbage collector) and Mrs. Ruggles takes in laundry to support Lily, Kate, twins (James and John), Jo after his father, Peggy, and baby William. Neighbors may pity Jo and Rosie for having seven rambunctious children but the Ruggles parents are proud of their brood and make light of their poverty. Under Rosie’s capable management, they make do: the children pass down their clothing to the next sibling and boots are frequently repaired by the cobbler. Nearly every child gets his or her own chapter containing a humorous exploit: Lily tries to help her mother with ironing and destroys a customer’s petticoat, Kate passes the 11-Plus but finding money for a secondary school uniform is a challenge, the twins seek an adventure and get more than they bargained for, young Jo sneaks into the cinema when he can’t afford to pay to see Mickey Mouse, and William is a contestant in a baby contest. The book ends with a triumphant family trip to London to ride in Uncle Charlie’s dust-cart in a big Cart-Horse Parade in Regent’s Park.

My Impression: In 1937, this book won the Carnegie Medal, the British literary award that annually recognizes the outstanding new English-language book for children or young adults. It must have been particularly gratifying to Garnett whose manuscript had been rejected by several publishers because they did not believe there was a market for books about a working class family.  The irrepressible Ruggles won hearts because they ignore their neighbors’ pity and are proud of every child, regardless of any naughtiness. However, funds are always a concern. When Kate, the second child, earns a scholarship to secondary school, her parents are pleased and Jo says nothing should stand in the way of her cultivating her brain but Rosie is worried about the uniform and all the extras needed for five years. With help from a government grant and some quality hand-me-downs from one of Rosie’s clients, Kate gets everything she needs:

It was thrilling to have so many new clothes all to oneself! Gym tunics, dark red blouses (Mrs. Beaseley’s niece’s white ones dyed with “Drummer”), and a dark blue blazer with a pocket on which was embroidered a crest, the words Otwell Centrall School, and a motto in a strange tongue Kate said was Latin, and which she would shortly “know”. But best of all were the new school hat with a striped band, and the striped school tie to match, which together cost a while eight and elevenpence and had to be bought at a special shop!

I couldn’t help wondering how Mrs. Ruggles will cope with clothes rationing when the war breaks out, but something always works out for this family and they are appreciative when it happens. I never read this book as a child but I always assumed it was set in the London slums. In fact, it takes place in the small town of Otwell (based on Lewes, Sussex where Garnett lived), just six miles from the sea. While they are poor, they still have fun. It is important to Mr. Ruggles to provide an occasional treat: for the August Bank Holiday, he takes on extra jobs so he can bring the family to spend a day at the sea. One day has to be enough – in contrast to The Fortnight in September, in which a solidly middle class family enjoys a longer holiday at the seaside, although it has financial constraints of its own. Overall, I thought it was a sweet story but growing up I preferred my British fiction to involve fantasy, school stories, or Streatfeild's would-be performers.

Source: Library. I read this for the 1937 Club, hosted by Simon at Stuck in a Book and Karen at Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings.