Collected's top books of 2025 | Hop, Step and Jump - Winifred Watson

COLLECTED LOVES... A true Persephone Classic yet also a great first dabble into Persephone books! Frankie (a newbie to Persephone) and Jessica (Persephone connoisseur) both loved this pacy read from 20th Century Newcastle author Winifred Watson. A story of social mobilty with a plucky and dynamic heroine, who is absolutely relatable, courageous and timely. This novel strikes the perfect balance between Northern grit and escapist fairytale, all packaged in Persephone's trademark elegant cover. A gift truly for anyone - it's got it all!

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In the beginning, the love story of Jenny Dennet and Bert Murray ran the appointed course of all similar love stories in their neighbourhood. It differed in the end because Jenny had character as well as charm and Bert had only charm.

Jenny wants more. Much more. Born into poverty in a small industrial town in the north of England, she is determined to find a way out. After taking up with a handsome rotter named Bert who works in the same factory as her, it’s not long before she gives in to his pleas to marry him. But he turns out to be a drunk and a philanderer with an occasional propensity to violence and she soon walks out on him (the ‘hop’ of the title). ‘You can’t leave me. Where’ll you go?' asks Bert. ‘I’ve got my hands an’ I’ve got my brains and I can work,’ Jenny replies.

Sure enough, Jenny quickly gets a job as a housemaid. She falls into an affair with her employer’s son, Hugh (the ‘step’), but, finding herself both morally compromised and – even worse – bored, she borrows some money from him to open a bakery (the ‘jump’). But will running her own business be enough to fulfill her? And what about love?