No Mean Affair

A thrilling novel of political ambition and clandestine love from debut author Robert Ronsson. Young Glasgow tenement housewife, Mary Ireland, is trapped in poverty and a lacklustre marriage. But her political awakening puts Mary in the path of John Wheatley, a wealthy and ambitious Labour politician. When Mary stands up for John during a street riot, they are set on a path that will lead them all the way to the heart of government in Westminster. The levers of political power are almost within their grasp. But what price does Mary pay for her escape? Will John's scheming with Ramsay MacDonald, Oswald Mosley and other leaders of the left deliver his and Mary's shared vision of a socialist future? The author, who is Mary Ireland's grandson, has combined historical facts and family rumour to paint a controversial picture of early 20th century life and politics in which the romance, corruption and political intrigue resonate with how we live now.