Thumping onto our screens this Spring courtesy of the powerhouse that is Steven Knight, A Thousand Blows on Disney+ is an absolute screamer of a British historical drama series created by the man who is perhaps best known for Peaky Blinders (available on Netflix). 

Set in the 1880s, the show follows best friends Hezekiah Moscow (Malachi Kirby) and Alec Munroe (Francis Lovehall), who migrate from Jamaica to London's East End seeking better opportunities. Hezekiah becomes entangled in the dangerous world of illegal bare-knuckle boxing, leading to conflicts with veteran boxer Henry "Sugar" Goodson played by the incredible Stephen Graham. Simultaneously, they cross paths with Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), leader of the Forty Elephants, an all-female crime syndicate involved in shoplifting and confidence tricks. 

While the series is based on real historical figures and events, certain elements have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes. The Forty Elephants were indeed a notorious all-female crime syndicate in London during that era, and the show incorporates aspects of their history into its narrative. 

As I watched the first episode of A Thousand Blows and heard those words The Forty Elephants, I pressed pause and had to regale my husband with everything I knew about them. I had recently finished a star of star books called Poor Girls by author Clare Whitfield. And I was a fan. A big fan of “the Elephants”. It’s a book we all adored here at LoveReading, and a book I keep pressing into the hands of everyone I know.

​Vividly bold and striking, 1920’s London roars to life around the Forty Elephants female crime gang in this fascinating meld of fact and fiction. The Forty Elephants actually existed, women running their own, mostly family based, gang of thieves from the 1870’s through to the 1950’s. 

Our reviewer Liz Robinson commenced: “Oh my, what a story! Set in the 1920’s, Nell finds herself caught in the middle of a crime spree, and faced with the difficult decision of whether to serve, marry, or steal. “

We have been fans of Clare Whitfield since the release of her debut novel People of Abandoned Character in 2020 which blended fact and fiction as it takes place in London 1888 during the violent reign of Jack the Ripper. In her latest book Poor Girls, Whitfield takes inspiration from history once more, this time focusing on the criminal underbelly of 1920s London and this notorious female-led gang.

We chatted to Clare on the launch of this, her latest book. “I have been intrigued by true crime stories since about the age of twelve. I’m 46 now, so back in the olden days this information only really came in the format of true crime books! In the case of The Forty Elephants, I am sure I have stumbled over brief mentions of them over the years, but the information was always scant and the coverage sparse. 

“However, there is much more awareness of them floating around now, but why this has never been a huge story is a bit of a mystery to me. It’s got all the marks of a big story – the head of the gang during their heyday in the 1920s was a formidable woman called Queen Alice Diamond. Alice stood five-feet-nine inches at a time when the average man was five-feet-six. She wore diamonds on every finger and all the women working in the ‘The Forties’ were known for ‘putting on the posh’ and always went out dressed in diamonds and furs and full face of makeup, looking a million dollars. What a set of ready-made characters! Whether you can reconcile the morality of what they got up to or not, they were very successful and ran rings around the police. I was frustrated about the lack of exploration of their situation, and simply thought if I’m intrigued, others might be too."

And how we are!

Liz Robinson continues: “Author Clare Whitfield has obviously thoroughly researched the history of these women and has created a thrilling and beautifully eloquent tale. It feels oh-so real, the clubs and clothing are described so vibrantly, and the life of the gang sparks with fiery authenticity, It isn’t all high-jinks, diamonds and champagne, the darker side of their life spills into violence, and prison life is made abundantly clear. I found myself caught hook line and sinker, not wanting to put this book down as the end drew ever closer. 

Chosen as a LoveReading Star Book, this really hits the spot. Exciting and fascinating in equal measure, Poor Girls grounds itself in reality and thrusts a fist in the air for the strength and audacity of these women.”