Scouse Republic

David Swift skilfully evokes the bright, raucous, lively, noisy city. I have no Liverpool ancestors myself, but reading this book made me hope that I might find some

Written with the secure touch of a native Scouser looking out over the River Mersey. His extensive scholarship is lightened with quotes from people he has interviewed, personal anecdotes and wry asides

Fascinating, funny and full of great stories - just like the city itself

[Swift] has a terrific eye for the telling detail . . . You should read this book

Liverpool beguiles, Liverpool bewilders. Swift's superb analysis gets to the scarred heart of this troubled, beautiful and spirited city

Spiky

Deftly blends a sweeping, multi-century history of the city's rising and fading fortunes with the cultural vignettes of Beatlemania and Merseybeat, the figure of the "scally" and Liverpool's "birds", and the emergence of football casual culture which began on Anfield and Goodison Park's terraces

From its soccer teams to the Beatles, David Swift explores how the city's proud history has set it apart from the rest of England