The Potato Factory

The Potato Factory by Courtenay, Bryce. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780316158558.

In the dark backstreets of Stepney, Ikey Solomon is the King Rat. A notorious criminal, his only fear is that Hannah, his resentful and ambitious wife, will force him to tell her his half of the combination to the safe in which their joint wealth is hidden. When Hannah and Mary, Ikeys intelligent and resourceful mistress, are deported to a penal colony in Van Diemens Land, it would seem that Ikeys chances of getting hold of the money are gone for ever. But Ikeys determination leads him to the colony, under a false name, and though imprisoned himself, both he and Hannah survive, driven by their mutual hatred. Mary too has survived, and becomes the owner of the Potato Factory, where she makes and sells bootleg liquor. She also has learnt half of the combination to the safe, and when she adopts twin babies, one black , one white, she determines to get the money for herself, But Hannah, and Ikey have other plans... With its vivid characters, its richly described scenes of Tasmania and London life, and its page-turning narrative, The Potato Factory reveals the master storyteller at his best.