The above books were mostly set in London but I decided to branch out and read a book set in ....Birmingham.
This one, called Birmingham Rose, is a bit more realistic. Theres a vicars daughter in it whos friends with the protagonist and already the poor heroine has endured a workplace rape, pregnancy and the death of her son, while her dad has PTSD from the first world war and doesnt want to have to live through the second.
Its all rather grim. And these were the days before 'birth control' so her poor mother just has baby after baby after baby. That they cant afford. On the interesting side, if you really want to know what its like living in a slum in Birmingham it will transport you there. I hope it will get better...it has to, its fiction.