I was given this book as a present and it turns out to be the most fascinating history of Liverpool that I have read. It's a bit of a page -turner, like a well written novel, and from the very first sentence of the introduction the author draws the reader into the narrative, which is part his and for those with some experience of Liverpool, part your's. At every period of Liverpool's history the reader feels he is experiencing the action as it happens. A unique feature is the way the author explains the derivation of words associated with Liverpool which makes for an even more interesting read.