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RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: may 2010 :: RMTnews
27
book offer
MAY DAY
RMT and London Books are jointly re-publishing a
classic working class novel by John Sommerfield called
May Day and is available to RMT members for just £5.99
The country is in turmoil – the people are
fed up with the excesses of big business;
workers are told to increase production for
less pay; the wealthy meet to plan how they
can become even richer; the unions try to
mobilise the power of the masses; links
between government, arms-manufacturers
and the media are hinted at but never
proven; disillusionment spreads; a march
takes place; the police clash with
demonstrators; a man is killed on the streets
of London.
This could be a description of Britain
today, but it is also a summary of some of
the events driving May Day – a novel that
was first published in 1936.
The book’s author, John Sommerfield,
was a politically active man who fought in
a Republican machine-gun unit during the
Spanish Civil War, while back home in
London he wrote for various left-wing
publications, spoke at rallies and meetings,
and took his beliefs out onto the streets of
the capital – in one incident losing his front
teeth in a clash with either the police or
fascists.
Set over a three-day period leading up to
and including a May Day march in London,
the novel follows the fortunes of a diverse
range of characters as a planned busmen’s
strike helps focus the anger of a young
female workforce in the East End. The books
crossed boundaries of sex and class, and is a
fast-paced, imaginative novel, as relevant
today as when it was first written.
Everything changes... nothing changes.
London Books has brought this long
neglected classic back into print as a quality
hardback, priced £11.99, but in recognition
of the RMT’s support in producing this new
edition, May Day is on special offer to RMT
members for the reduced price of £5.99, plus
p&p.
In addition London Books is offering the
RMT membership the same special offer on
the five other titles in its Classics series –
The Gilt Kid and They Drive By Night by
James Curtis, Night And The City by Gerald
Kersh, A Start In Life by Alan Sillitoe, and
Wide Boys Never Work by Robert Westerby.
Each book comes with an in-depth
introduction by a contemporary author –
Iain Sinclair, DJ Taylor and Jonathan
Meades have featured so far – and May Day
includes an introduction by John King,
author of The Football Factory.
These books are forgotten gems – vibrant
working-class fiction that still packs a
powerful punch.
For an overview of the books and
authors please go to www.london-
books.co.uk
To take advantage of the RMT Special
Offer please go to www.london-
books.co.uk/RMToffer.asp
For postal sales please fill in the form
below and send it to PO Box 52849, London
Books, London SW11 1SE
London Books can be contacted on
info@london-books.co.uk.
Name
Address
Titles required
Amount enclosed
(Each book costs £5.99, plus £1.85 post and packing per title.
Please make cheques payable to London Books Ltd.)
This offer runs from May 1st until October 31st, while stocks
last, and is valid within the UK.