A story of survival against a familiar world that was coming to an end. A depression that took away most people's way of life in Lancashire and Yorkshire, but in return gave people, especially women, independence from male domination and in some cases, abuse.

The story of Nell, abused by her father and later husband. Katherine suffered a different kind of abuse from her mother, and last but not least, Izzy Procter, a girl no one could tame. A girl who liked to live it up and burn the candle at both ends; who though having loving parents, still had her share of troubles in other areas. This is their story as much as anyone's and the thousands who followed them to escape oppression.

Its also a story of social history and social science, chronicling the beginning of the end of King Cotton, and ending in the start of a war that offered full employment.