‘Jacobs’ style of writing is interesting, bringing a biographical matter-of-factness to longer descriptive and historical passages, but then springing into life with the Astorians’ good-humoured banter. He also injects pathos where needed, especially in how he deals with Bertha and Estelle. A really nice final touch was the series of biographical notes like those movie credits that tell us what characters went on to do next. Pomeranski may be a nostalgic and affectionate tribute to the South London of author Gerald Jacobs’ youth, but it isn’t a sentimental one. Jacobs’ eponymous hero was a self-made man, and I very much enjoyed reading about him.’

Shiny New Books reviews Pomeranski by Gerald Jacobs. You can read the full review here and get your copy of Pomeranski here.