“Some saints begin their lives imperfect and then turn into something special,” writes the eponymous protagonist of Saint Mazie in her diary, inadvertently predicting the trajectory of her life. Born in 1897, Mazie Phillips (based on the real-life Mazie Gordon-Phillips, the “Queen of the Bowery” who died in 1964) – a boisterous, promiscuous, orphaned child – grows up to become a compassionate philanthropist, a heroine in the New York streets she comes from, who dedicates her time to caring for the homeless. Told through a series of diary entries and “interviews” collected almost a century later by the enigmatic Nadine, Mazie’s life is broken into fragments that at once intrigue and give insight into a fascinating period of New York history. Attenberg’s prose is sharp, fast-paced and economical, brilliantly channelling Mazie’s vivacious character. And despite being set firmly in the past, Mazie’s experiences of grief, family, friendship and mental health are timeless and universal.

Saint Mazie is published by Serpent’s Tail (£12.99). Click here to order a copy for £10.39