TURTLE SOUP FOR THE KING. The Cato Street Chronicles

by Judy Meewezen

 Published by Adelaide Press, New York, 1st February 2021

ISBN-13  978-1 -954351-35-6

 Turtle Soup for the King tells the true story of the Cato Street Conspiracy, in which five near-starving activists, known as “tavern radicals” and their followers are incited by a government spy to plan the assassination of the UK Cabinet. For the first time, the story is told from the point of view of the leading participants, including the infiltrator, and with the spirited participation of their wives and girlfriends.

LONDON, 1820. The principal conspirators are two bootmakers and a butcher (Englishmen, RICHARD TIDD, JOHN THOMAS BRUNT and JAMES INGS) and a cabinet-maker (Scots-Jamaican, WILLIAM DAVIDSON). Their leader is Lincolnshire farmer’s son turned swordsman and mercenary, ARTHUR THISTLEWOOD.

Followers of the late philosopher and writer, Thomas Spence, the men are angered by social inequalities and by having to fight in wars and pay taxes without the right to vote. Meanwhile, the king and his cronies enjoy their expectation of universal service and the luxuries of life.

Aboard the royal yacht, Sir William Curtis delivers HIS MAJESTY’s favourite dish -

                                 Turtle-Doves and Turtle-Soup. George Cruikshank, 1822.                  Courtesy British Museum Images