Liverpool: the Rise, Fall and Renaissance of a World Class City

by Ken Pye

The unique tale of the great port and city of Leverpul begins in 1207; it does not even appear in William the Conqueror s Domesday Book of 1086. Liverpool was created by the belligerent English monarch King John. Within sixty years of the end of the Civil War, Liverpool created the world s first enclosed, commercial wet dock; eventually there would be docks along 71/2 miles of the River Mersey. It rapidly grew into the greatest port and city in the entire British Empire outside London.Nevertheless by 1980, Liverpool s population had reduced by over half; its infrastructure and economy were decaying, and its political leaders were leading the city towards complete collapse. Today, however, Liverpool has the fastest growing economy in Britain, helping to lead the country out of recession; it has been a European Capital of Culture and is a UNESCO World Heritage City. The renaissance continues, with the passion and energy for which Scousers are renowned! This is an inspiring story of an outstanding people, and of the rise, fall, and renaissance of their remarkable home: Liverpool a world-class city."

Genres: History

238 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2014

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I again rue the lack of half-stars in Goodreads' rating system, because this is much more a 3.5 than a 3.

This book is dense. It's a comprehensive history of Liverpool from the 11th century to 2014, so it covers a lot of ground and, as a result, is sometimes a bit of a slog to read. If this weren't an assigned textbook, I probably would never have picked it up.

However, it is pretty well written, very well researched, and I found myself charmed by Ken Pye as I read it. This man loves his city and it really shines through. This is his (hyper-academic) love letter to his city, and the man is Scouse through and through.

If you want to learn everything there is to know about Liverpool to the almost-present, this is a good place to start. So, yeah. That's the review.

[Rithwik Hari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light, easy to read, but comprehensive summary of Liverpool’s history since it’s founding. Largely takes a high-level approach, but dives into details and human stories frequently as well. Highly recommend especially for any visitors to the city!

[Andy Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book covering the history of Liverpool. All the key events in Liverpool’s great history are touched upon and the book left me wanting to explore more, whether about the great barons who first ruled the lands around Liverpool or the more recent history – particularly during the 1970’s to 1990’s, the time of the riots and militant rule. Overall a fascinating read that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the city.