Transworld to publish WW2 evacuees' story

Transworld has acquired the real-life story of a family of evacuees during the Second World War by James Maloney.

The book, billed as the "true story of six ordinary sisters in extraordinary times", covers the "the trials and tribulations" of leaving London, the "destructive horror" of the Blitz, and family tragedy, through to tea dances, romance and triumphs of making a new life in the country. 

The Sisters of Battle Road is authored by Maloney, a former national newspaper showbusiness editor and freelance journalist. He is also the son of one of the story’s six sisters.

Editorial director Andrea Henry acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to The Sisters of Battle Road from Robyn Drury at Diane Banks Associates in a three-publisher auction.

Henry said: "This lovely tale of sisterhood is steeped in nostalgia. We’re very excited to be publishing such a heartwarming saga, which also happens to be an important piece of social history. That all six sisters are still alive is the icing on the cake."

Maloney added: "The story of how my mother and her five sisters brought themselves up from a young age during wartime evacuation has been passed down to their children and grandchildren over the years and I could not be happier to have such prestigious publishers as Transworld to spread their story to a wider audience."

The Sisters of Battle Road will be published in paperback in March 2017.