About this item
A memoir of coming of age behind the counter, exploring butchery as an art form and taking an incisive look at an industry on the brink.When sixteen-year-old Jessica Wragg applied for a job at her local farm shop in Derbyshire, England, she never expected to land a position behind the butchery counter. Wragg was younger than many of her colleagues by decades and she was one of the few women on staff, struggling to earn her keep among colleagues who were reluctant to share the tricks of their trade with a novice. Breaking down carcasses by day, and studying animal anatomy by night, Wragg was soon hooked and determined to establish herself in an industry that is steeped in tradition, and often resistant to change. From the English countryside to the streets of London, Girl on the Block blends Wragg's personal coming of age story with a lyrical exploration of her craft and a rich history of butchery. She also examines the modern meat industry and the ever-changing ideologies around ethical meat consumption, as an often-conflicted carnivore who has spent time in an abattoir and witnessed slaughter firsthand. A raw tour through one of the world's oldest, dirtiest, and most fascinating professions, Girl on the Block is Wragg's tale of returning home with blood on her boots at the end of fourteen-hour days and finding her way in the end.
About the Author
Jessica Wragg is an author from Derbyshire. A butcher since she was sixteen, her first book entitled Girl on the Block, combines her love of writing with a career in the meat industry spanning over a decade. Her previous work has appeared in various publications, notably Lenny Letter and Vice. Throughout her career, she has been featured in the independent, the Daily Mail, and starred in short films with Channel 4 and the BBC as well as working on a nationwide media campaign for Tabasco sauce. She regularly takes part in talks and panel discussions regarding women in male dominated industries and is Red Cross ambassador for the EmpowHER campaign. She currently resides in Brixton, South London.
