Pomeranski - by Gerald Jacobs (Paperback)

About the Book

Simon Pomeranski is led back to his childhood and the post-war days of the Astorians, a small group of criminals and traders in 'swag' who ran their business from Brixton Market and exercised their own particular brand of justice

Book Synopsis

This encounter with the past, and the discovery of his father Benny's diaries, leads Simon Pomeranski back to his childhood and the post-war days of the Astorians, a small group of criminals and traders in 'swag' who ran their business from Brixton Market and exercised their own particular brand of justice. From this wonderful assortment of characters we are introduced to 'Spanish Joe', the cultured Russian emigre, Sam 'the Stick', with his wounded machismo and penchant for violent retribution, and the dazzling songstress Estelle, among others. Front and centre in their world, though, is Benny himself, the autodidact owner of Pomeranski Gowns, whose passionate affair with Estelle marks the beginning of a new era for the Astorians. Both riotous and profound, this novel resurrects a vibrant era that deserves a place in our collective memory.

Review Quotes

Praise for Pomeranski

''The characters come rolling off the page...

This is vivid, compelling, and true to life. Indeed, it is about a life long gone, but so much not forgotten''.

Julia Neuberger ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

''Fizzling with life both low and lower, hard to put down, impossible to forget''.

Rick Gekoski ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amazon Reviews

Pomeranski has the humour and dark undertow of Woody

Allen's romp, Small Time Crooks. Someone should send a

copy of the book to Guy Ritchie. Through his memories of people and place, the

author gives a sense of how Brick Lane and Brixton were almost like a village,

set apart from the cosmopolitan centre of the heaving metropolis. Bawdy, vivid

and entertaining, Pomeranksi is a perfect lockdown read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gerald Jacobs' Pomeranski brilliantly evokes a time

and place with clever plotting and a tightly knotted ending. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A terrific, pacey read that sparkles throughout with humour and warmth. A page

turner, chock-full of colourful Runyonesque characters who are armed either

with acerbic one liners or equalizers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 Humorous

and vivid recreation of a slice of London life in the mid-20th century. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gerald Jacobs' Pomeranski brilliantly evokes a time and place with clever plotting and

a tightly knotted ending. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐