Israel Zangwill (1864-1926) was born within the sound of Bow Bells in London, and the life of the Jewish community in the East End provided the subject matter for his books and plays. His vibrant writing contributes richly to social history as well as to the opus of Victorian literature.

'The Red Mark' tells the tale of Bloomah Beckenstein, whose family's many demands on her continually prevent her from getting to school on time. Week after week her lateness prevents her class from winning the attendance prize. But Bloomah is determined that her class should win the prize and have the honour of displaying the school banner on the classroom wall for a week. By Thursday it seems as if nothing can go wrong...but then a postcard arrives....