At a Single Stroke

John Durdin, born in 1816, is not content to follow in his father's footsteps. Instead, he works hard, and moves from Northampton to London, to work as a Bankers Clerk - a respectable job with good prospects. But his ambitions soon outstrip his financial reward. With a growing family, he seeks a short cut to wealth and success. All goes well at first, but as time goes on, the foundations of his fortune begin to crumble. His stroke, when it hits, is not one of luck - how will he and his family survive this blow?