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MATTHEW PLAMPIN
The Street Philosopher
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd. 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF
First Published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2009
Copyright © Matthew Plampin
MAP © John Gilkes, 2008
Matthew Plampin asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9780007272433
Ebook Edition © MARCH 2009 ISBN: 9780007310043 Version: 2017-05-04
For my father, who kept on about it.
It is unspeakable, godless, hopeless. I am no longer an artist interested and curious, I am a messenger who will bring back word from the men who are fighting to those who want the war to go on forever. Feeble, inarticulate will be my message, but it will have a bitter truth, and may it burn their lousy souls.
Paul Nash, Letter from Passchendaele,
October 1917
Contents
Title Page Copyright Dedication Epigraph Map Crimean Peninsula September 1854 Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Manchester May 1857 Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three The Valley Of The Alma, Crimean Peninsula September 1854 Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Manchester May 1857 Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Before Sebastopol, Crimean Peninsula October–November 1854 Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Manchester May 1857 Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Before Sebastopol, Crimean Peninsula January 1855 Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Manchester June 1857 Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Before Sebastopol, Crimean Peninsula June 1855 Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Manchester June 1857 Chapter One