The Leaving of Liverpool by Lyn Andrews is a British family saga about the Parkinson family, in particular, the two daughters, Ellen and Phoebe-Ann. Set in the immediate years after World War I, the Parkinsons are a working class family that has lost their father to a working accident and then the two older boys in the War. The four remaining children all have jobs with both Ellen and Phoebe-Ann are in service, while the boys work on Liverpool’s busy docks and dream of emigrating to North America. The mother, Lily, is about to take a second husband, Albert. At first apprehensive about this new man coming into their family, Albert fits in wonderfully and soon the family automatically turns to him for advice and guidance.

While Ellen is the sensible sister, Phoebe-Ann tends to be the flighty one and follows her heart where it leads her. Eventually it leads her into a terrible marriage. Tied to the drunken Jake Malone, a member of the notorious Malone family. Meanwhile Ellen has her troubles. Although she has the faithful and caring Edwin wanting to marry her, she first suffers a terrible attack and needs lots of time to recover, then other family problems seem to conspire to keep these two from starting a life together.

I find this author writes interesting and well-crafted stories that hold my attention. The story unfolds in a straight forward manner and the reader learns how difficult life could be in the days of no government support for the poor or disabled. The Leaving of Liverpool was a light read about a lower class family who strive to improve themselves by hard work with plenty of family, fussing, feuding and romance thrown into the mix. ( )

Another good book by this author. She doesn't seem to write a bad book.

Back Cover Blurb:
Phoebe-Ann Parkinson was, according to her mum Lily and sister Emily, developing ideas above her station. In the Liverpool of 1919, still recovering from the effects of war, Emily was happy to go into service and be courted by the kind reliable Edwin. But Phoebe-Ann, working as a lady's maid to Miss Olivia Mercer, dreamed of a much grander future, in which she was more than a servant to her young mistress and a confidante to Olivia's badly shell-shocked brother James. Then a tragic attack threatened to ruin Emily's life, and Phoebe-Ann was driven from the Mercer household and into the arms of Jake Malone, a member of the notorious, drunken Malone family. Abandoned by her family, loathed and despised by the foul-mouthed Ma Malone, she found her dreams turning to nightmares. But as Emily began to recover, Phoebe-Ann was able to start forging a new life for herself and to look forward to leaving Liverpool and her past behind her. ( )