Stephen Wade

An investigation into the darker side of Yorkâ??s history â?? from crime and its punishment to deprivation, injustice and danger.

"I can't teach you, but I can show you." With these words, Kentucky balladeer Doc Hopkins shared his musical knowledge with a willing student, summoning an independent streak deeply embedded in the American character. His words capture the informal creativity and colloquial practice that marks folk tradition as it extends from the countryside to the city and back again. Stephen Wade recounts creators and conservators like Doc Hopkins, many of them born in the closing years of the nineteenth century and the first decades of the twentieth. The figures include Sid Harkreader, Kirk McGee, Ola Belle Reed, Jewel Fagan Haynes, Cordell and Olean Kemp, Bill Monroe, Helen Marie Rowe, Virgil and Mabel Anderson, Joe and Odell Thompson, John Jackson, Huddie Ledbetter, Uncle Dave Macon, Dorris Macon, Raeburn Flerlage, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Jim Schwall, Archie Green, Lloyd Lewis, Thaddeus Willingham, Jack Conroy, and Fleming Brown. As Will Keys, another of the musicians featured here, once told the author about his way of playing, it's "AWYC, Any Way You Can." These individuals and their stories demonstrate how folklore offers a way of understanding the world. Thoughtfully written, filled with original research, and abundantly illustrated with both color and black and white photography, Our Common Life illuminates the truth that creative freedom within informal tradition, fundamental to the artists and their processes, speaks to a resourcefulness inscribed in the nation's founding charter and expressed in its common life.

From noble intrigues at the restless royal court to the rough justice of parish life, A History of Criminal Tudor England explores how law, transgression, and faith shaped a society perched between medieval order and modern ambition. In a world ruled by the rhythm of the church and the uncertainty of the seasons, theft, murder, and misfortune exposed both the desperation and the ingenuity of England’s people. Drawing on centuries of legal records and the vivid stories buried in the plea rolls and assize courts, this book uncovers a world of accidents and murders, faith and cunning. Here are joiners who built secret priest holes, vagrants who defied their parishes, and killers who escaped the noose by reciting a single verse of scripture. Through these tales of fear, faith, and fragile justice, we see Tudor England not as a distant past, but as a living, breathing society which was restless, devout, and dangerously human.

Will the forbidden fruits of their labours come to light?As the end of the Second World War nears its close, a tense mood surrounds Leeds. Karel Letnov faces the noose at the Leeds assizes. Accused of a string of suspicious killings in the peaceful village of Forley, a war-ravaged community contemplates its future.Clara nursed Karel back to health following the evacuations from Dunkirk at the start of hostilities. So when her husband, Tom, is found murdered, rumours of a secret relationship abound. Alyse Rose, a singer with Ken Kershaw's dance band, becomes enraptured by the case when it is revealed that Kershaw and Karel were perhaps more than friends.

Dorothy L. Sayers: the name conjures images of Lord Peter Wimsey's sleuthing adventures, and masterful translations of Dante. Yet, she was more than a literary luminary of the interwar Golden Age of crime fiction; she was a trailblazer, a feminist, and a scholar, whose influence resonates to this day. In this new biography, delve into the complexities of Sayers' life and legacy. From her iconic status as one of the 'Queens of Crime' alongside Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh, to her thought-provoking explorations of feminism and Christian philosophy. Through thematic analysis of Sayers' writings and beliefs, the author illuminates the depth and breadth of her influence. From her incisive fiction and scholarly interests to her contributions as an advertising copywriter where she penned the line, 'Guinness is good for you', Sayers left an indelible mark on literature and beyond. As a crime writer, historian, and poet, Wade brings his own passion and expertise to this rich investigation. Join him on a journey through the life and works of Dorothy L. Sayers, and discover the enduring legacy of a true literary icon whose influence is rich and productive, mainly in her fiction, but also in many other areas of life.

In The Women Writers' Revolution, embark on a captivating journey through the dynamic social fabric of Britain from the aftermath of the First World War through to the burgeoning regional writing movement of the 1950s. This illuminating account not only delves into the literary achievements of women writers but also offers a profound exploration of the social realities they navigated. From the early post-war years to the dawn of expanded women's franchise in 1928, aspiring women writers faced a landscape fraught with both challenges and opportunities. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, this book vividly portrays the aspirations, struggles, and triumphs of these pioneering women who dared to make their mark in the literary world. Discover the myriad experiences and skills required for success as a woman writer during this transformative era. From navigating the patriarchal structures of publishing to honing their craft in clubs and societies, these women defied societal norms and carved out space for their voices to be heard. As the 1930s unfolded, a wave of documentary and realism provided a platform for depicting the lives of working-class women in politicized ways, captivating audiences through magazines and journals. Against this backdrop of social change, luminaries like Storm Jameson, Winifred Holtby, Dorothy Edwards, and Eleanor Farjeon emerged as trailblazers, leaving an indelible mark on British literature. The Women Writers' Revolution is not just a literary chronicle but a compelling social history that offers profound insights into the experiences of women aspiring to get into print during a revolutionary period in Britain.

A Dictionary of True Crime is a guide to the most compelling cases of extreme and violent crime in the writing files, from the 17th century to present day. Amongst notorious criminals like Jack the Ripper and the Moors Murderers, lesser-known but provoking cases which have occupied the writer’s mind for some time are also discussed, with questions and theories posed, such as those of Walter Rowland, who was twice sentenced to die, and Louie Calvert who, Wade argues, was innocent of the crime for which she was hanged. As well as murder, other crimes, including baby farming, arson and treason are also discussed, along with criminals such as gangsters, pirates and highwaymen and punishments including hanging, flogging and being burnt at the stake. Professions within crime, for example detectives, hangmen, and the unexpected Kings’ Messengers who were given powers of arrest in their duties feature, along with cases that have formed points of law which impact the courts even today, and oddities like the ‘cutlery eater’, a burglar with a strange calling card. Arranged in an A-Z format, this well-researched dictionary from crime writer Stephen Wade is the perfect read for fans of true crime.

In 1941, Beryl Baxter, a dressmaker from Grimsby, signed up to do her bit in the Battle of Britain. She was to serve as a plotter as aircraftswoman in the WAAF and, upon discharge in 1949 she began life as a welfare worker for the Women's Voluntary Service. Her postings included the Korean War, Japan, Hong Kong and Iraq. Throughout these years of service she fulfilled the roles of mother, sister and girlfriend to thousands of servicemen, both conscripts and regulars. Presenting a dramatic narrative from several theatres of war, this book recalls Beryl's life, based on a large archive of letters and documents that she preserved, allowing the reader to go on these journeys to war alongside a brave and enterprising independent woman.

At the height of the blues revival, Marina Bokelman and David Evans, young graduate students from California, made two trips to Louisiana and Mississippi and short trips in their home state to do fieldwork for their studies at UCLA. While there, they made recordings and interviews and took extensive field notes and photographs of blues musicians and their families. Going Up the Country: Adventures in Blues Fieldwork in the 1960s presents their experiences in vivid detail through the field notes, the photographs, and the retrospective views of these two passionate researchers. The book includes historical material as well as contemporary reflections by Bokelman and Evans on the times and the people they met during their southern journeys. Their notes and photographs take the reader into the midst of memorable encounters with many obscure but no less important musicians, as well as blues legends, including Robert Pete Williams, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Al Wilson (cofounder of Canned Heat), Babe Stovall, Reverend Ruben Lacy, and Jack Owens. This volume is not only an adventure story, but also a scholarly discussion of fieldwork in folklore and ethnomusicology. Including retrospective context and commentary, the field note chapters describe searches for musicians, recording situations, social and family dynamics of musicians, and race relations and the racial environment, as well as the practical, ethical, and logistical problems of doing fieldwork. The book features over one hundred documentary photographs that depict the field recording sessions and the activities, lives, and living conditions of the artists and their families. These photographs serve as a visual counterpart equivalent to the field notes. The remaining chapters explain the authors’ methodology, planning, and motivations, as well as their personal backgrounds prior to going into the field, their careers afterwards, and their thoughts about fieldwork and folklore research in general. In this enlightening book, Bokelman and Evans provide an exciting and honest portrayal of blues field research in the 1960s.

At the height of the blues revival, Marina Bokelman and David Evans, young graduate students from California, made two trips to Louisiana and Mississippi and short trips in their home state to do fieldwork for their studies at UCLA. While there, they made recordings and interviews and took extensive field notes and photographs of blues musicians and their families. Going Up the Country: Adventures in Blues Fieldwork in the 1960s presents their experiences in vivid detail through the field notes, the photographs, and the retrospective views of these two passionate researchers. The book includes historical material as well as contemporary reflections by Bokelman and Evans on the times and the people they met during their southern journeys. Their notes and photographs take the reader into the midst of memorable encounters with many obscure but no less important musicians, as well as blues legends, including Robert Pete Williams, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Al Wilson (cofounder of Canned Heat), Babe Stovall, Reverend Ruben Lacy, and Jack Owens. This volume is not only an adventure story, but also a scholarly discussion of fieldwork in folklore and ethnomusicology. Including retrospective context and commentary, the field note chapters describe searches for musicians, recording situations, social and family dynamics of musicians, and race relations and the racial environment, as well as the practical, ethical, and logistical problems of doing fieldwork. The book features over one hundred documentary photographs that depict the field recording sessions and the activities, lives, and living conditions of the artists and their families. These photographs serve as a visual counterpart equivalent to the field notes. The remaining chapters explain the authors’ methodology, planning, and motivations, as well as their personal backgrounds prior to going into the field, their careers afterwards, and their thoughts about fieldwork and folklore research in general. In this enlightening book, Bokelman and Evans provide an exciting and honest portrayal of blues field research in the 1960s.