The Liverpool Basque

by Helen Forrester

Looking back on his life, eight-four year-old Manuel Echaniz will never forget his youth growing up poverty-stricken and in hardship on the streets of Liverpool. Now far away from the place that formed him, Manuel has a family who know nothing about the place he grew up. Concerned by their lack of interest in their heritage, he sets out to teach his granddaughter about his formative years and the matriarchal community that raised him through the toughest of times. Will she ever understand that other world he left behind in the teeming streets of the Mersey docklands? The Liverpool Boy was previously titled The Liverpool Basque .

Genres: Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Helen Forrester (real name June Bhatia) (born 1919, Hoylake, Cheshire (now in Merseyside)) is an English-born author famous for her books about her early childhood in Liverpool during the Great Depression as well as several works of fiction.

In 1953 Forrester moved to Edmonton, Canada.

Reviews

[Steve Porter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novel about Manuel Echaniz, now an old man in Canada, looking back on his life. As the title suggests, he was of Basque stock and brought up in Liverpool.

My main criticism of this book is that although there is likely to be a lot of sadness and death involved in the thoughts of someone so old, the Grim Reaper’s axe seems to be swinging relentlessly throughout. Granted, these immigrants had no easy life but perhaps a bit more humour could have been injected into proceedings by the author, even of the black variety.

That said, I would not describe this novel as harrowing. And it has many qualities, not least of which it is well written and careful structured, albeit a little conservative in its prose for my own tastes.

This family saga is a convincing portrayal of an immigrant community in the first half of the twentieth century. And there are some glimpses into Basque culture and history. The way that historical events are weaved into the tale works very well.

Three stars out of five may seem a little harsh. Not a light read, but in other ways quite traditionaI, I’d give this novel seven out of ten. And the ending took me somewhat by surprise in spite of all that had gone before.

[Petrina Wetzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book by Helen Forrester about survival in absolute poverty in the early 1900s in Liverpool. Some insight also into people who move from another country and how they view their identity. The fear and economic bullying of some of their adopted country’s people also provides a disturbing similarity to current practices in Australia and the UK. This is countered by the almost overwhelming support provided by neighbours who are equally poor, or even poorer, in this tough environment. All this within the confines of a passionate extended family which, in the end, starkly contrasts with that of the more sterile, modern Caucasian families that really do not know each other nor share their lives willingly with each other. An amazing book with so many facets that are just as relevant today as they were 100 years ago!

[Eleanor Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a teenager I read Twopence to Cross the Mersey and it really stuck with me for a long time, so when I saw this on a shelf of books being sold for charity I thought I could spare a pound. It took me a while to get into it but I found the central part of the story of Manuel growing up in the Liverpool slums quite gripping. The strong character of his mother in particular. As Manuel got older the story started to accelerate and it felt a bit rushed in places but overall it was worth a read. The ending in some ways felt quite fitting but in others was just a bit too awful for me. I guess I'm left with mixed feelings about the book as a whole - and an urge to reread some of her others!

[Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never knew that Liverpool was a centre for Basques between the wars. Not as good as her usual Liverpool books.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

My all time favourite book.

[Anne Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is especially interesting to me as my childhood took place in the basque country and i have always held a fascination for its people and their culture. Its a good moving story that spans the whole of the 20th century nearly up to the present. It s told simply, with the 'past history' of Manuel being told as a memoir he is writing for his granddaughter, while he lives in the present, in Canada.

The storyline of poverty in the Liverpool docklands is very engaging, the hardships of families with the father at sea, the horrors of the Spanish Civil war (as well as WW1 and WW11) are vividly described.

I would say its a calm novel, no quirks or tricks that todays writers use, but the story is a great one, the characters attractive to read about (a little romanticised but not slushy) and it held my interest throughout