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William Woodruff had the sort of childhood satirised in the famous Monty Python Yorkshireman sketch. The son of a weaver, he was born on a pallet of straw at the back of the mill and two days later his mother was back at work. Life was extrememly tough for the family in 1920's Blackburn -- a treat was sheep's head or cow heel soup -- and got worse when his father lost his job when the cotton industry started its terminal decline. Woodruff had to find his childhood fun in the little free time show more he had available between his delivery job and school, but he never writes self-pityingly, leaving the reader to shed the tears on his behalf. At ten his mother takes him on his one and only holiday -- to Blackpool. He never wonders where they get the money to do so, only where she disappears to with strange men in the afternoons, before taking him to the funfair, pockets jingling an hour or two later. NAB END is certainly not all grime and gloom however, there's a cast of great minor characters from an unfrocked vicar to William's indomitable grandmother Bridget who lend some colour and humour -- and all against the strongly rendered social backdrop of the 1920s and 1930s. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
A book I enjoyed from beginning to end. This documents an almost-forgotten time in British history when thousands of people lived in third world conditions. I found it an especially revealing read amid the poverty of South America.
Fascinating account of coming of age in a mill town of northern England during the early twenties. Sad and heartbreaking in parts - but sprinkled with humor as well. They were tough people alright. Not sure many of us could have endured the hunger and hardships that were part of their daily life.
Beautifully written autobiography depicting life in Lancashire, poignant and accurate. The early segments in Blackburn sharply mirror my partner's grandmother's childhood in that very town. A great book.
This book is a story of the struggles of the cotton workers in Balckburn. The demise of the cotton industry in Britain and the terrible unemployment that was to follow the closing of many of the mills. William Woosdruff manages to convey the life of a family caught up in these times.
Although this story is very interesting and heartbreaking it was hard going at times.
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Author Information
12 Works 639 Members
British chronicler William Woodruff was born in Blackburn, England on September 12, 1916. At the age of 10, he spent more time on paper routes than in school. He dropped out of school at age 13 to work in a grocer's store. At the age of 16, he found work in an iron foundry in London. Union leaders and Labor Party politicians convinced him to go to show more night school and he eventually earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree from Oxford University and a doctorate from Nottingham University. He taught at numerous universities including Nottingham University, Harvard University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Florida. He wrote numerous books including The Road to Nab End, Beyond Nab End, Vessel of Sadness, and Paradise Galore. He died on September 23, 2008 at the age of 92. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Common Knowledge
- Important places
- Lancashire, England, UK
- Dedication
- To the memory of my grandmother Bridget who always called me Billy Boy
- First words
- They said I should not go.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)'Good-bye Lancashire,' I said, a frog in my throat...
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- Members
- 300
- Popularity
- 106,510
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.62)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 14
- ASINs
- 4
