The Outsiders

by James Corbett

Lost loves and painful truths against the backdrop of Liverpool’s fall and rise Liverpool 1981: as the city burns during inner city riots, Paul meets two people who will change his Nadezhda, an elusive poet who has fallen out of fashion; and her daughter Sarah, with whom he shares an instant connection. As the summer reaches its climax his feelings for both are tested amidst secrets, lies and the unravelling of Nadezhda’s past. It is an experience that will define the rest of his life. The Outsiders moves from early-80s Liverpool, via Nadezhda’s clandestine background in war-torn Europe, through to the present day, taking in the global and local events that shape all three characters. In a powerful story of hidden histories, lost loves and painful truths ambitiously told against the backdrop of Liverpool’s fall and rise, James Corbett’s enthralling debut novel explores the complexities of human history and how individual perspectives of the past shape everyone’s present.

320 pages, Hardcover

Published May 31, 2021

Reviews

[Nel Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good page turner, but I didn’t really connect with any of the characters they just felt a wee bit flat. Definitely good fun to read something set in Liverpool though, makes a pleasant change from London

[JWells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book as it manages to combine all my favourite themes: Liverpool, the Holocaust, Russian spies, end of century spin doctors, Israel…

[Anne-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

How if you are born in Merseyside can you feel like an outsider? As a foreign import into Liverpool I found this concept of locals feeling like an outsider very interesting. I was even more intrigued when I asked a couple of local friends and they verified this idea, explaining that as they didn't grow up in the heart of Liverpool they were considered foreign too. This theme of not belonging runs through this novel along with some other pretty harrowing stuff. It dredges up all the awful Liverpool events that made the news from the 1980s to the present day. This saddened me as there is so much more to Liverpool history and it would be so much more interesting to focus on that.
Our main character is Paul who we follow from A levels during the Toxteth riots to university and through his career as a war correspondent. During his A Levels he meets and falls in love with Sarah whose mother, Nadezhda, was once a famous poet but is now a fading star. We hear her story in the middle of things and while I understand that she was an outsider in a different way, I felt that this was a different book. There was a lot going on in the story and it needed pruning. I loved the geographical references to Liverpool and there were some clever ideas in there. But there was also a lot of darkness and moral depravity that wasn't great to read about. There were times when I enjoyed the book but more often I was having to power through just to get to the end.

[Clive Lillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book and story

As a first novel, astonishing.

Gathering fragments and themes of Liverpools history , the horrors of war and the complexities of memory, relationships and deception into a classic tale.

My favourite novels intertwine real history, relationship analyses, and a good old fashioned plot. This is more than covered.

You care for the characters, you know them, you feel them.

Being brought up in Merseyside as well as having an interest in the geopolitics detailed as well as living in a kibbutz over 30 years ago brings huge reference points to me.

Corbett is a very impressive writer yet I may have to grapple with my football bias from the other side of the city to check out his Everton-centric writing, that I have heard great things about.

This book deserves a big audience.

[Fiona Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book. I didn't chose to have this book - serendipity brought it to my door as I bought some books from a publisher on the basis that they would throw in a few others for good measure...and this was one of them. What a gem it turned out to be - a love story covering many decades from Liverpool in the 80s through global conflicts and back to Liverpool, but also drawing on unreliable, or not, narratives of the war years and the holocaust. It's a triumph of writing, with so many familiar news stories and real events reminding you of days gone by. Yes, it could all have been resolved long ago...but that's the sliding doors moments that are in all our lives!

[Keith Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been a 5 star review but that ridiculous overnight success of one character just took the edge off. However, that's being a tad unfair, because the story is riveting. I was given the book by a friend and I'm so pleased. I lived in Liverpool at exactly the time much of the book is set and it just envelops you. The city, the characters and the amazing love story. Wonderful.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve read this year !

[Marie McCumiskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Literally could not put it down. Highly recommend.