An ex-worker at a big Fleet Street newspaper in London, Robert Bennie, has published a true story about a vagrant who used to come around his office everyday and who died on the streets of London.

Not a journalist but an engineer, Bennie breathed writings and stories for 40 years. He remembers Mary, a woman who became a standard presence in the everyday office life. She was difficult to deal with, got harsher by the life on the streets, yet she appears tenderly defenceless from Bennie’s descriptions. None of the journalists at the time thought to collect her life and memories in a book, yet Bennie thought that behind a person like Mary, there was a very interesting story to tell. Not having any chance to verify the story, or to ask Mary how things went, Bennie decided to make it up in order to "celebrate" the woman.

From a happy beginning with her young husband looking forward to a loving life together, Mary, Margery Hopkins immediately sees how her life is supposed to go towards a different path. Her husband, an airman, fails to return home, not to know if he’s dead or alive. While working as a nurse Margery fights to gain the recognition of a qualification, but she is forced to leave the medical profession by a doctor who rapes her and convinces the board that she is lying when she speaks out. Unable to work in a hospital due to the ruling in her records, she eventually ends up on the streets, a victim of circumstance, ridiculed and disgusted for her place in society.

Robert Bennie handles the sensitive subject matter perfectly, painting a detailed and emotional portrait of his heroine and the landscape of her life. Tensions between the hardships of the time and the atrocities of Margery’s life clash with the elation and love that is born of a worldwide belief that each day could be your last.

A poignant story, depicted perfectly well by Bennie, who builds every little details of the life of a woman that become a paradigm of a life. The author is able to communicate respect and authority over his subject, allowing the reader the joyous experience of learning, not only about the life of Margery Hopkins and the people around her, but how to have a better understanding of ourselves and our society.

A heart wrenching tale of soul destroying circumstances and one woman who refused to be a victim.