Autobiography of a Liverpool Slummy

Post by **Barbara B** » 16 Sep 2011 10:19

A friend has just lent me this book and I wondered if anyone else had come across it. It's written by Pat O'Mara and is a record of his upbringing in the Liverpool Courts. The writing isn't brilliant but it's very evocative and the photos are interesting to say the least.
As so many of my ancestors seem to have lived in the Courts it was an eye-opener to see what dreadful conditions they endured. No wonder infant mortality was so high!
Barbara

Post by **MaryA** » 16 Sep 2011 10:36

Sounds good - if you don't mind a second hand copy you can get one from Amazon for just about the cost of the postage - £2.80 plus 1p.

Post by **PJLong** » 16 Sep 2011 12:35

Yes! Went to Hay-on-Wye with Gary ages ago to wander all the second hand smelly bookshops. I got bored so went looking at Lancashire stuff.....found that book and had read three chapters before I bought it and left! Found it both funny and sad.

Post by **Manila Jack** » 17 Jan 2012 22:51

I've got that book. There are a couple of people in it who are connected to my family.

Post by **Barbara B** » 18 Jan 2012 15:49

Who were they, Jack? I'll have to have another look.
Barbara

Post by **Manila Jack** » 18 Jan 2012 22:01

Hi Barbara,

Frankie Roza and Harold May. Frankie was later to become the father of Lita Roza, the 1940's and 50's singer. His mother, Josephina Delacruz and my grandad were siblings. Harold May could well be a son of Madeline Delacruz, another of my grandad's sisters, she married Henry May. Although the name Harold does not fit in with the names I know in the family the Mays were living in the same area off Park Lane at the same time.