Book cover of Wide Boys Never Work

Book description

First published in 1937, Wide Boys Never Work brings the streets of pre-war London alive in the tradition of other great low-life novelists such as Gerald Kersh and James Curtis, and is a forgotten gem rich in both its snappy dialogue and vibrant prose style. This new edition from London…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Wide Boys Never Work as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

A tale of West London in the 1930s, Westerby brings to life a lost world of gamblers looking for mugs at the long-gone White City dog track.

Local teenager Jim teeters on the edge of the criminal underworld in a thriller woven into a London you can almost taste—teeming with life and the inevitability of death in the shadow of the coming war.  

From Tom's list on revisiting lost London.

If you love Wide Boys Never Work...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Want books like Wide Boys Never Work?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Wide Boys Never Work.

Browse books like Wide Boys Never Work

Book cover of Under the Net
Book cover of Albert Angelo
Book cover of Fowlers End

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,366

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like Wide Boys Never Work, you might also like...

Book cover of Marriage and Fatherhood in the Nazi SS

Marriage and Fatherhood in the Nazi SS by Amy Carney,

When I was writing this book, several of my friends jokingly called it the Nazi baby book, with one insisting it would make a great title. Nazi Babies – admittedly, that is a catchy title, but that’s not exactly what my book is about. SS babies would be slightly more…

Book cover of A Forgivable Indecision

A Forgivable Indecision by Shawn Jennings,

In 1913, a 15-year-old pregnant girl was found dead of apparent suicide. Dr. James Wilson, a new graduate and the first doctor ever to start a practice in this rural town, feels guilty over her death because of his delayed intervention.

He knows Bessie was raped by one of her…

5 book lists we think you will like!