I’m thrilled to have Robbie Cheadle here today to talk about her latest release, “And the Grave Awaits!” It was a great read 🙂 Here’s a link to my review on Goodreads. LINK
And the Grave Awaits
by Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Climbing boys and the origin of my short story, An Eye for an Eye.
My photograph of a building with chimneys in the UK
During the 1700s and 1800s, mainly male children often performed an occupation known as a climbing boy or chimney sweep. Many of the climbing boys were orphans, and in Great Britain many came from workhouses, and some were as young as 3 years old. As the child needed to be quite small to climb up the chimneys of the time, most climbing boys outgrew this occupation by the time they were nine or ten years old, although due to poor diet, some worked until they were as old as fourteen years.
The life of a climbing boys was dangerous as they climbed hot flues that could be a mere 7 inches square, although 14 inches by 9 inches was a common standard, and they could get jammed in the flue, suffocate or burn to death. The children developed raw, red skinless patches on their bodies from climbing up and down the stacks. These only went away when the climber developed calluses or the skin was hardened by their master applying an application of strong brine, which was placed on them in front of a hot fire.
The boys also frequently fell, and this resulted in deformed ankles, broken legs and twisted spines. Eye and respiratory problems also plagued climbing boys. The deadliest condition that affected climbing boys was called chimney sweeps’ carcinoma which was caused by the fact that soot is carcinogenic, and the boys slept under the soot sacks and were rarely washed. Chimney sweeps’ carcinoma is a cancer that results from squamous cells which form on the surface of the skin and the lining of hollow organs in the body and line the respiratory and digestive tracts. Warts on the skin of the scrotum, caused by the irritation from soot particles, developed into scrotal cancer which ultimately invaded the abdomen and killed the sufferer.
The climbing boys were apprenticed to a master sweep who was paid by the parish to teach the orphans or paupers the craft of chimney sweeping. The boys signed papers of indenture, in front of a magistrate, which bound them to the master sweep until they were adults.
Climbing boys in literature
Charles Dickens featured a particularly horrible master sweep called Gamfield in his book Oliver Twist. Gamfield wants to take Oliver as an apprentice but, at the last minute, the magistrate refuses of sanction the apprenticeship as “Mr Gamfield did happen to labour under the slight imputation of having bruised three or four boys to death already.”
Oliver escapes being bound apprentice to the Sweep. Picture credit: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/47529/pg47529-images.html
The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby, written by The Reverend Charles Kingsley, was published in 1863 and told the story of a young chimney sweep, Tom, who finds redemption from the horrors of his work by becoming a water baby. Kingsley was appalled by the social conditions during the Victorian era and he wrote this book to draw attention to the horrific fate of climbing boys.
Earlier, in the late 1700s, William Blake wrote poetic depictions of the lives of climbing boys which were published in two books of poetry, Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience.
Here are the first two stanza’s of The Chimney Sweeper: When my mother died I was very young by William Blake:
“When my mother died I was very young,
And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry ” ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep!”
So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep.
There’s little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head
That curled like a lamb’s back, was shaved, so I said,
“Hush, Tom! never mind it, for when your head’s bare,
You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair.””
You can read the complete poem here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43654/the-chimney-sweeper-when-my-mother-died-i-was-very-young
What do climbing boys have to do with my writing
My story, An Eye for an Eye, features climbing boys who are apprenticed to a vicious female master sweep called Mother Abigail. This supernatural murder story illustrates the terrible plight of climbing boys during that period in history and the possible repercussions of such abuse.
About And the Grave Awaits
The cover of And the Grave Awaits featuring a cross-shaped gravestone with a bunch of roses on top. Cover artwork in charcoal and coloured pencil by Robbie Cheadle.
A collection of short paranormal and dark stories.
Includes the award-winning short story, The Bite.
A group of boys participate in a reality television challenge; to the death.
What does it mean to be a Canary Girl? One young woman is about to find out.
Where is the bride? A beautiful young woman goes missing during a game of hide and seek on her wedding day.
Some stories will make you cry, some will make you gasp, and some will leave you believing in vigilante justice. All will end with a grave.
Amazon USA pre-order link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7745TZB
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Picture caption: Author photograph of Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Award-winning, bestselling author, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels, a collection of paranormal and historical short stories, and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She and is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta also has sixteen children’s books and three poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle and has poems and short stories featuring in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Website
https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
Blog
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19631306.Roberta_Eaton_Cheadle
https://twitter.com/RobertaEaton17
https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites/?modal=admin_todo_tour
TSL Publications
https://tslbooks.uk/product-tag/robbie-cheadle/
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
A very interesting feature about Robbie’s new release. Congratulations to her, I look forward to reading this book. 🙂
Even though it’s a collection of short stories, Marje, it was hard to out down 🙂
Thank you, Denise
I enjoy sharing stories too Denise. Great to know. 😀
Thank you, Marje. I’m delighted you enjoyed this post.
I certainly did. 😀
I knew about the chimney boys. I’ve read books about them when I was younger. It is very sad. This is a very interesting presentation and a great introduction Robbie Cheadle’s new book. I am very much looking forward to reading it.
I didn’t know about them, Thomas. It is heartbreaking what those poor boys went through. It is a collection where there is not only history but entertainment.
🌼💛
Hi Thomas, I also knew about the plight of climbing boys from a young age. I read the Water Babies when I was 10 and it really upset me. I’m glad you appreciated this post 💛
Another feather in Robbie’s author cap! <3
A great big feather, Annette:) xo
💐
Thank you, Annette 💖
Congrats on your new release, Robbie! It sounds great! Thanks for sharing, Denise.
Yvette M Calleiro 😊
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
It was hard for me to put down, Yvette. I wanted to see what the next story was about.
I am so pleased you enjoyed this book, Denise.
Hi Yvette, thank you. Denise is very kind to host me.
Congrats on your new book, Robbie, and wishing you all the best. Thanks for sharing, Denise 🙂💕
Happy you share, Harmony! A fantastic collection. Xo
🌈💞
Hi Harmony, thank you so much 💖
The history of the climbing boys is horrific. As a species, we still aren’t very caring of our children, but I suppose we’ve made some progress. I’m deep into this book and will finish it today. It’s excellent. My favorite so far of Robbie’s fiction books. Thanks for hosting, Denise, and Congrats to Robbie.
I have a hard time wrapping my head around the treatment of those boys and all children. It’s a mindset I don’t understand, Diana. Yes, at least we have made some progress. I agree it’s her best to date too.
Hi Denise, it is hard to understand how this sort of treatment of young children was allowed. They were valueless in the eyes of society.
I finished the book today and that story was horrifying and heartbreaking. Made me want to cry. The collection is awesome.
Hi Diana, that is really lovely to hear. I’m delighted you enjoyed this collection.
I’ll get my review posted tomorrow 🙂
I have never heard of the climbing boys. That is appalling. A part of history not in any of my history book. Congratulations on your new collection, Robbie! I can’t wait to read it!
No, never seen this horrible treatment of those boys in the history books I grew up with either, Joy. Heartbreaking. It’s a fantastic read
I read about it first in the Water Babies and I watched the movie.
Hi Joy, there were climbing boys in the USA. I saw pictures of them when I researched this topic. So sad 😢
Such an interesting story!
It is, Jacqui. A sad treatment of those boys.
😢
I’m pleased you enjoyed it, Jacqui 💖
This sounds great – another addition to my TBR. I can’t wait to read this one!
It is a great read, Noelle. Hard to put down!
Hi Noelle, I’m pleased you enjoyed this post. Denise is wonderful to host me.
A great, informative post, Denise! Your review of Roberta’s new book drew me into the stories. It’s on my list, and I’m looking forward to reading it.
Thank you, Timothy 🙂 It was a great collection, and each story is good in its own way. You have some good reading ahead!
Hi Timothy, I am delighted by Denise’s lovely review. Thank you for visiting 💞
My pleasure, Robbie.
It’s mind blowing to me that parents allowed children to be climbing boys. Though they may not have realized at the time how bad it was to breathe in the carcinogenic fumes, they certainly had to understand the risk of falling and burns.
I agree, Pete. I can’t imagine allowing a child to do that, either. I can only imagine how desperate the times were to find any way to earn money to eat even putting your children at such a risk.
The work houses used to give the children to any employer who would take them. It was a terrible life for an orphan.
Hi Pete, it’s lovely to see you. Most of these children were orphans. It was a very cruel society back then.
Congratulation, Robbie on your latest book. It sounds like a really good collection based on historical reality.
She really nailed the historical reality, Carol, and the paranormal stories, too 🙂
💝🌸
Hi Carol, thank you. I appreciate your comment.
Thanks so much, Denise. It’s a fabulous read!
It really is a fabulous, Colleen. It’s definitely her best! Xo
🌼💛
Thank you, Colleen. I appreciate your comment and your review 🪷💖
Hi Denise, thank you for your lovely review and hosting me today.
Happy to spread the news on your great new book, Robbie 🙂
Hugs, Denise.
Good Lord, what an appalling way to treat–I should say mistreat–a child.
I agree, Liz! So horrible!
HI Liz, what you say is true. Sadly, this is based on a true story.
Your Goodreads review is great, Denise. Robbie is so good at incorporating historical events/situations into her stories. Robbie, congratulations on this new collection!
Thanks, Priscilla 🙂 Yes, she is very good at bringing the history into her stories.
HI Priscilla, thank you so much. I do like to bring historical tragedies into my stories.
What a sad story about those young chimney sweeps, Robbie. I can’t imagine selling my child to do something like that. Looking forward to reading your collection!
HI Teri, I agree it is unimaginable to us to sell our children into slavery. Yet, it still happens among desperate people who have lots of children and very little else.
I just bought Roberta’s book and look forward to reading it.
Thank you, Dawn. I hope you enjoy it.
The way those children were treated was abominable. Congrats to Robbie. Just ordered Ghost/Gold.
Stay cool…..
scoxox
It really was abomiable on all levels, Sandra. You stay cool too. Xo
I hope you enjoy A Ghost and His Gold. It is my favourite of my books.
Enjoy your weekend.
scoxox
Those poor climbing boys. I didn’t know that soot is carcinogenic. Thank goodness we have central heating now!
Hi Stevie, so many things that people used and did even in the ’50s and ’60s are so bad for health. I read Alex Craigie’s book about your childhood in the UK and it was such an eye opener.
Yes, I read that book too. Many of the things, like smoking for instance, people weren’t aware of the dangers.
A wonderful post. The mistreatment of the boys–and children and workers in general–was appalling and heartbreaking.
I look forward to reading Robbie’s book!
Hi Merril, a few readers have said they liked this story best which is interesting to me. I hope you enjoy this collection. I like writing short stories.
Hi Robbie. I know you do. Sorry, I’m behind on reading! 😊
There just seems to be no end to the past and current horrible things we adults allow, even sanction, to happen to children.
Hi Pat, you are right. Humanity has a fraught history and this sort of thing is still continuing today. I was reading about the child labour used in the cocoa industry and it is tragic.
Hi Denise. It’s always lovely to see another offering from Robbie. Thank you for promoting it and other indie authors too. Big hugs to you both.
Hi Teagan, Denise is wonderful to host me with this post. Thanks to you too for your on-going support.
Terrible how chimney sweeps and other child laborers were so horribly treated. A situation not totally gone today, in 2024. Denise, this is a great hosting of Robbie, and, Robbie, you are to be commended for your highly skilled historical writing that shows humanity’s frequent dark side.
Hi Dave, thanks for visiting me here. I feel it’s important for people to remember our history and why we need to continue to fight for a better future. It’s so easy to slip into indifference when situations don’t touch you directly.
I knew about the climbing boys, but not the extent of the horrors of their lives. Another sad commentary on human behavior. Robbie makes history vivid and real.
Hi Kerfe, human behaviour has been horrific in the past. I want people to remember so they don’t become indifferent to erosions of labour laws and freedoms.
A great intro to Robbies book,,the horrors those poor boys endured is so sad..I also read the Water Boys at a young age…
HI Carol, The Water Babies made a big impact on me. I was saddened by the terrible treatment of Tom and how he felt compelled to jump into the river. I also found Oliver Twist very tragic.
Fantastic excerpts I’ve been seeing around blogland for Robbie’s book, which I’m looking forward to reading. Congrats again to Robbie
Hi Debby, thank you, it’s a great tour. I hope you enjoy this book.
I know I will Robbie <3
Congratulations to your new release, Robbie! How terrible to abuse orphan boys and used them as chimney sweepers! That part of history is heartbreaking. Thank you fro hosting the blog tour, Denise!
Hi Miriam, as you know there are a lot of dreadful and sad events in our collective history. I hope you’ve had a great sleepover weekend with your granddaughters.
That’s right, Robbie. There was a lot of tragic treatment for humans due to class systems and lack of scientific knowledge in many areas in history.
The grandkids had a great time with us. They’ve gone camping this weekend.
Congratulations to Robbie on her new release! Thanks for sharing Denise.
Happy to share this fantastic collection, Beem 🙂
Great job on the review, Denise. I liked how you presented it. I’m so happy to see Robbie getting the exposure she deserves.. 💕