Hollybeck is set in the early 1900s, and is a story about how two friends, Emma Watkins and Trudy Spence, take unexpected paths in their lives. Both girls start from similar working class conditions, but whereas Emma flourishes, Trudy has a mental breakdown due to being raped and becoming pregnant, and she is institutionalized. The book also tells of the intermingling of rich and poor, between those living upstairs and those living downstairs in the Hollybeck House. The story reflects various aspects of humanity including its struggles, pains and triumphs, and shows how Trudy Spence's loved ones deal with her declining health and mental illness. About the Author Dorothy Mitchell was born in 1938 and lives in Evesham in Worcestershire. She has published two novels entitled One For Sorry, Two For Joy and The Willerby Grange Secret, two poetry books and various children's stories. Dorothy draws on her experiences in life and writing in a similar vein to Catherine Cookson and Maeve Binchy.