Local book publishers Tricorn Books have a new kindle book out called Portsmouth Plays by John Stanton and Stuart Olesker. If you have a kindle reader then click here to download a sample and/or buy a copy. If Tricorn Books can drum up interest in the Kindle version then they may be able to publish a printed version to include more poets, street lyricists and playwrights.

“The four plays in this volume tell stories about Portsmouth’s lesser known but fascinating past. You will not find here mention of Nelson, Brunel, Dickens, Kipling, Wells or Conan Doyle – all associated with the Portsmouth story. Instead you will meet 16th century hardened seamen and their blowsy wives, 17th century blasphemers and abusers of authority, a 19th century dockyard worker who challenges the reputation of the ‘great and the good’ and 20th century Pompey girls doing their bit in local corset factories in World War Two. All have stories to tell and here they are, told through two Portsmouth playwrights: John Stanton and Stuart Olesker.

All the plays have been performed very successfully in Portsmouth. It is in response to the many people, who have asked to see the plays published, that we present them in this form.”