Real Liverpool (Real Series) (Real Wales) - Softcover

Peter Finch; Niall Griffiths

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1854114573 ISBN 13: 9781854114570

Publisher: Seren, 2008

Synopsis

In population terms, Liverpool isn t a huge city (it is dwarfed by Birmingham), but it looms colossally in the history (recorded and mythical) of the British Isles, and indeed the world. Real Liverpool is Niall Griffiths antidote to some of mawkish twaddle that has marked Liverpool s year as European City of Culture. Griffiths love/hate relationship with the city of his birth is central to the book. He explores the various facets of the city its maritime and merchant histories, class divisions, sectarian divides, Celtic influences, and the siege mentality underpinning the celebrated Scouse humour. Nor does he flinch from Liverpool s dark side: the money from the slave trade, the drugs, the urban blight, the fallout from Thatcherism, the internecine violence. Jamie Bulger, Heysel, Hillsborough, the Dockers Strike, the Toxteth Riots, all of these and more are discussed. [br][br] Real Liverpool is underpinned by a strong autobiographical element which details the author s birth and formative years in the city, his movement away from it, the abiding pull it exerts. In addition, Griffiths interviews many people connected closely to the city, from personal friends and family members to artists and workers. From the Wirral to Warrington, Anfield to Everton, Bootle to Diddyland, Griffiths criss-crosses Liverpool by the Ferry and through the Tunnels, from John Lennon airport to the racecourse and down the docks, building a picture of a city which, whatever its faults, is never dull.

About this title

Synopsis

In population terms, Liverpool isn't a vast city (dwarfed by Birmingham, say), but it looms colossal in the history (recorded and mythical) of the British Isles, and in fact the world. "Real Liverpool" is Niall Griffiths' antidote to the flood of mawkish twaddle that will appear in the build-up to 2008 when Liverpool is European City of Culture.It showcases Griffiths' love/hate relationship with the city, its maritime and merchant histories, class divisions, sectarian divides, Celtic influences, and the siege mentality underpinning the celebrated Scouse humour. Nor does he flinch from Liverpool's dark side: the drugs, the urban blight, the fallout from Thatcherism, the internecine violence. Jamie Bulger, Heysel, Hillsborough, the Dockers' Strike, the Toxeth Riots, all of these and more are discussed."Real Liverpool" is underpinned by a strong autobiographical element which details the author's birth and formative years in the city, his movement away from it, and the abiding pull it exerts. In addition, Griffiths interviews many people closely connected to the city, from personal friends and family members to artists and workers.

From the Wirral to Warrington, Anfield to Everton, Bottle to Diddyland, Griffiths criss-crosses the city by the Ferry and through the Tunnels, from John Lennon airport to the racecourse and down the docks, building a picture of a city which, whatever its faults, is never dull.

About the Author

Niall Griffiths lives near Aberystwyth, and has published seven fiction books to date. His 2004 novel, Stump, won the Welsh Book of the Year Award. He has been published by Bloomsbury and Cape and his work continues to receive strong critical acclaim throughout the UK. Niall is also the author of Real Aberystwth, Real Liverpool and The Dreams of Max and Ronnie (Seren) and is a regular reviewer for The Guardian and a commentator on contemporary writing for a number of magazines.

About this edition

• Publisher: Seren
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1854114573
• ISBN 13: 9781854114570
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 180