Keep Your Head Up, My Girl

- Blurb -

Nelson 1910. Peggy's mother earns a living by sewing and prostitution. Her father, a gold prospector, drowns in the Buller River and her mother dies after giving birth to Billy. To prevent her brother's placement in an orphanage, thirteen-year-old Peggy seizes the newborn baby and flees on horseback into the night. In her pocket is Mother's valuable ruby necklace. They survive days and nights in the open during a cold NZ spring, eventually finding sanctuary in the Marlborough Sounds with Mother's childhood friend and people from a Maori village. Guarded at critical times by a mysterious presence, Peggy experiences friendship, loyalty, danger, and a way of life free from many restrictive social conventions of the time. After a failed love affair with a Maori boy, Peggy (now nineteen), crosses Cook Strait to Wellington with her young brother. They take up residence in a boarding house in Willis Street. Peggy finds work in Newtown, at Bryant & May, Bell Vespa Factory and Billy starts at Te Aro Nursery School. There are amusing adventures with the inhabitants of the boarding house. Peggy meets her father's wealthy family who initially consider her a 'gold digger'. She wants nothing more to do with them, but underestimates her grandfather's ability to influence and control. Peggy's boyfriend is 'called up' and dies in France. The war ends and there is celebrating in the streets. Peggy and Billy are struck down with influenza. Grandfather takes them to his grand house, where they are nursed back to health. Peggy begins work at Te Aro House Department Store. Reluctantly, Peggy sells her mother's necklace to buy a shop in Thorndon where she makes fashionable clothing for young women of the 'flapper' set. She marries a war veteran who suffers nightmares and depression. Conflict arises because she is determined to continue in business and her husband believes he alone must support his family. The Great Depression brings hard times. Grandfather dies and leaves the ruby necklace to Peggy ' unknown to her, he was the buyer all along. This is the story of a strong willed young woman, carving a path for herself during a turbulent time in NZ's history.