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Liverpool
Life in Connaught was hard. It was no more than a subsistence existence but at least they had a roof over their heads; of a sort. As if the vagaries of unpredictable crops and blights were not enough, the threat of an eviction now loomed. Edward now had little choice, the family had to leave their homeland and seek a better existence elsewhere. America was their destination, but they were never to get further than Liverpool.
Central characters are Edward, head of the family, Bridget, his wife, and Austin, their eldest son. Younger siblings of Austin are Bridy, John, Cecilia, and Ann. 'Liverpool' is the story of how a destitute family of Irish peasants left Ireland, what happened when they arrived in their port of transit, and their experiences in trying to build a new home in a culturally, politically, religiously, and commercially dynamic city riding the cusp of Britain's industrial revolution.
Although the story has been inspired by the experiences of the author's ancestors in the 1840s and 1850s, it remains a work of fiction. Nonetheless, the streets and buildings are real, as are some of the characters, events, and the social and economic challenges faced by the family. Their experiences would have been typical for many Irish families migrating from Ireland during the period covering the famine years.
Central characters are Edward, head of the family, Bridget, his wife, and Austin, their eldest son. Younger siblings of Austin are Bridy, John, Cecilia, and Ann. 'Liverpool' is the story of how a destitute family of Irish peasants left Ireland, what happened when they arrived in their port of transit, and their experiences in trying to build a new home in a culturally, politically, religiously, and commercially dynamic city riding the cusp of Britain's industrial revolution.
Although the story has been inspired by the experiences of the author's ancestors in the 1840s and 1850s, it remains a work of fiction. Nonetheless, the streets and buildings are real, as are some of the characters, events, and the social and economic challenges faced by the family. Their experiences would have been typical for many Irish families migrating from Ireland during the period covering the famine years.
330 pages, Paperback
Published July 6, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 6, 2023
Liverpool by Ged Melia
Genre: Historical Fiction/Biographical Fiction
Published: July 2023
Publisher: Grosvenor House Publishing
Pages: 346
Available: Ebook, Paperbook
Series: Yes, book 3
Romance:♥️ Nothing too graphic (have a dictionary handy)
Violence: 😨 Appropriate for the story, nothing too graphic
Thank you to the author Ged Melia for a complimentary copy of his book.
The short story: Heartrending story of an Irish family fleeing their country for the chance of a better life, but not finding it.
Liverpool is the story of an Irish family, Edward and Bridget O’Mhaille, and their children, especially their eldest son, Austin. But the story could be that of any Irish family who fled their homeland in the 1840s and 1850s, in an effort to make a better life for themselves and their children. Ruthless landlords have driven them into abject poverty and many are starving from the devastating potato blight. What awaits them in Liverpool is scarcely better.
Author Ged Melia based this story on that of his ancestors and as my own ancestors traveled a similar path, leaving Ireland for Manchester where they worked in the mills, I was intrigued to see how he crafted a narrative based on their lives. Melia has clearly done his research and I’m sure if you’re familiar with Liverpool you’ll get a real sense of the place as it was one hundred and fifty years ago. Political and social issues help flesh out the lives of the O’Mhaille clan.
While very interesting and well written, to me, the book reads as a running fictionalized biography of multiple generations of the O’Mhaille family rather than a story in the classic sense, including the typical elements of rising action, climax and resolution.
Liverpool is not an easy read. The subject matter is dark and the plight of these poor people is really heartbreaking. You keep hoping something good will happen. There are brief moments of happiness; a wedding, a christening, a holiday, but then it’s right back to the daily grind of living hand to mouth.
I found Liverpool to be well written but it’s told in 3rd person omniscient which is not a POV that I particularly enjoy. And while I can’t call it entertaining, it was highly informative and gave me a deeper understanding of the lives my ancestors endured at that time.
I highly recommend this book to history lovers looking to learn more about the Irish flight during the Potato Famine, life in England for the working class poor, and Irish history.
I rate this book: 4 ½ Stars (rounded up for Amazon.)
Genre: Historical Fiction/Biographical Fiction
Published: July 2023
Publisher: Grosvenor House Publishing
Pages: 346
Available: Ebook, Paperbook
Series: Yes, book 3
Romance:♥️ Nothing too graphic (have a dictionary handy)
Violence: 😨 Appropriate for the story, nothing too graphic
Thank you to the author Ged Melia for a complimentary copy of his book.
The short story: Heartrending story of an Irish family fleeing their country for the chance of a better life, but not finding it.
Liverpool is the story of an Irish family, Edward and Bridget O’Mhaille, and their children, especially their eldest son, Austin. But the story could be that of any Irish family who fled their homeland in the 1840s and 1850s, in an effort to make a better life for themselves and their children. Ruthless landlords have driven them into abject poverty and many are starving from the devastating potato blight. What awaits them in Liverpool is scarcely better.
Author Ged Melia based this story on that of his ancestors and as my own ancestors traveled a similar path, leaving Ireland for Manchester where they worked in the mills, I was intrigued to see how he crafted a narrative based on their lives. Melia has clearly done his research and I’m sure if you’re familiar with Liverpool you’ll get a real sense of the place as it was one hundred and fifty years ago. Political and social issues help flesh out the lives of the O’Mhaille clan.
While very interesting and well written, to me, the book reads as a running fictionalized biography of multiple generations of the O’Mhaille family rather than a story in the classic sense, including the typical elements of rising action, climax and resolution.
Liverpool is not an easy read. The subject matter is dark and the plight of these poor people is really heartbreaking. You keep hoping something good will happen. There are brief moments of happiness; a wedding, a christening, a holiday, but then it’s right back to the daily grind of living hand to mouth.
I found Liverpool to be well written but it’s told in 3rd person omniscient which is not a POV that I particularly enjoy. And while I can’t call it entertaining, it was highly informative and gave me a deeper understanding of the lives my ancestors endured at that time.
I highly recommend this book to history lovers looking to learn more about the Irish flight during the Potato Famine, life in England for the working class poor, and Irish history.
I rate this book: 4 ½ Stars (rounded up for Amazon.)
July 21, 2023
I did buy two of his earlier books, 'Family Business' and 'A Lancashire Story', both of which I enjoyed. This one looked a bit different so I wasn't really sure what to expect.
'Liverpool' is well written like his others, and
includes an impressive amount of historical detail, but it is a harder read. The story is about a family leaving Ireland in the 1840s and settling in Liverpool just before the famine started. I didn't know much about the Irish at that time, and if this is anything to go by they didn't have it easy.
The ending isn't what you would call a happy one but it still seemed to work. I did not enjoy it as much as the other two and yet I can't really give it less than five stars. If you like history, Liverpool history even, then this one is definitely for you.
'Liverpool' is well written like his others, and
includes an impressive amount of historical detail, but it is a harder read. The story is about a family leaving Ireland in the 1840s and settling in Liverpool just before the famine started. I didn't know much about the Irish at that time, and if this is anything to go by they didn't have it easy.
The ending isn't what you would call a happy one but it still seemed to work. I did not enjoy it as much as the other two and yet I can't really give it less than five stars. If you like history, Liverpool history even, then this one is definitely for you.
August 21, 2023
This offers us much to think about and certainly many reasons to be grateful. No matter how bad we may deem life in the 21st century to be, it is a dream compared with what happened to these Irish immigrants forced out of their homeland by a potato blight, an unequal society and a lack of political will for change. Yet this is no mere documentary. Ged Melia offers characters with whom we can empathise and therefore we can feel more keenly the horrors of life for these people. Fortunately there is some hope at the end.
The story takes place over several years and occasionally when we “fast forward” we are left wanting to know more of what happened in between.
Nevertheless, this is an engaging if not altogether comfortable read.
The story takes place over several years and occasionally when we “fast forward” we are left wanting to know more of what happened in between.
Nevertheless, this is an engaging if not altogether comfortable read.
February 17, 2024
Excellent story! an eyeopener what was it like to be an Irish immigrant in Liverpool in the 1840s.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews