Liverpool Fantasy: A Novel [Paperback]

Larry Kirwan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2003

It's 1987, and the Beatles are gathering in Liverpool for a reunion. It has been twenty-five years since John Lennon walked out of the Parlophone studios, taking George and Ringo with him. Paul, American-speaking and -acting, has become the world-famous Las Vegas entertainer Paul Montana, and he's visiting Liverpool for the first time since 1962, hoping to reunite with his boyhood chums, the once "hottest little quartet—in Liverpool." Father George, now a Jesuit priest, is recovering from a nervous breakdown; John is embittered, alcoholic, unemployed, and on the dole. His wife has left him, and young Julian has joined the fascist National Front. Ringo lives on the earnings of his entrepreneurial hairdressing wife while he and John sit in weekends with old rivals, Gerry and the Pacemakers. It is Lennon's curse that he can imagine what might have been. Liverpool Fantasy is a blackly comic meditation on the enduring hazards of friendship, the alchemy of collaboration, and what a world without the Beatles—that is, without idealism—looks like.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What if the Beatles had broken up early in their run-with dire, world-altering consequences-and then fecklessly come together again 25 years later? That is the discouraging alternative history musician and playwright Kirwan proposes in his choppy debut novel. It is 1962, and the Beatles are in the first flush of fame when John Lennon, feuding with manager Brian Epstein, angrily stomps out of the studio for good. Following the demise of the "Fab Four," the course of history is changed for the worse. By 1987, England has devolved into a musty and vulgar fascist state, in which Lennon's son, Julian, plays a role. Lennon lives a bitter, booze-stoked life; George Harrison is a confused Jesuit priest; Ringo Starr, supported by his wife, dresses and behaves like a peacock; Paul McCartney, popular in Las Vegas as "Paul Montana," has made it big but is fading. Now, 25 years after the breakup, he dreams of rekindling success by reuniting with his mates back in Liverpool. Returning, he convinces them to give the Beatles one last shot, arguing that had they reached their prime, they might have changed history. Kirwan is generally unsuccessful at playing the zany Beatle humor games Richard Lester so brilliantly employed in A Hard Day's Night. More critically, he fails to bring his famous characters to convincing life. Hardcore Beatle fans may gain some titillation from this distorted picture of their favorites, but they might do better to listen again to "Penny Lane" or "Hey, Jude" and try to imagine a world without them.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...a realist tale of friendships neglected and dreams deferred, featuring shockingly credible versions of personas you know and love." -- Entertainment Weekly

"This blackly comic take of a world without Mop Tops is brilliantly written..." -- Irish Voice

"[Kirwan’s] clever premise is bound to appeal to music aficionados and baby boomers." -- Publisher’s Weekly

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560254971
• ISBN-13: 978-1560254973
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,600,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Larry Kirwan is the leader of Black 47, the politically charged Irish-American rock band. He has written Liverpool Fantasy and Green Suede Shoes: An Irish American Odessey. His new novel, Rockin' The Bronx will be published in Feb. 2010. He has written ten plays, five of which are collected under the title, Mad Angels. He hosts Celtic Crush on SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio and writes a weekly column for the Irish Echo. For more information visit www.black47.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating nightmare, July 14, 2003

By 

mackenzi Johnson (East Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liverpool Fantasy: A Novel (Paperback)

Larry Kirwan knows his way through the minds of the Beatles. Anyone with doubts shoud read this and then read Hunter Davies' or another of the multitude of available texts or biographies of the group. The voices are as much representative of the alternate John, Paul, George, and Ringo as they are indicative of Kirwan's skills as an author.
The idea of this world struck home-(one of my earliest memories is my dad telling me that one day I would realize and appreciate the importance of Sgt. Peppers'--he was right, of course). While causing a mixture of other emotions-maybe without the enormous success of the Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison would still be with us. Would the trade off be worth the loss? Is it really possible four individuals can make that much of a difference to society? These questions are present within the story-but the reader is left to his or her own devices when it comes to making decisions.
Liverpool Fantasy is just that. A fantasy. Although not a very comforting one. Larry Kirwan is a story teller who has often told stories that lead the listener (or reader) to learn more about a known subject-and this book continues that tradition.
A good inspiration for a fresh listen to your Beatles collection-which comes as a rare and welcome event.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the Best, March 21, 2005

By 

Daniel C. Laursen (Staten Island, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liverpool Fantasy: A Novel (Paperback)

A fictional story about the Beatles breaking up before the band actually became what they are today, conjured up thoughts of a book about the music industry and the changes that we would expect.
That is just a small part of it.
Mr. Kirwan explores what would happen to an entire generation of people worldwide without the release of Rock and Roll and the theraputic nature of music on this generation.
Political ramifications, musical ramifications, personal ramifacations, and much, much, more.
The amazing part about this whole complex fantasy that he lays out for us, is it remains an easy read and a book that you will find hard to put down. The book also goes deeply into the band mates and what it meant to be one of the Liverpool Lads. The writings about them playing has to be as close to being on a stage than any of us will ever get. I am a guitar player, to a degree, and was sweating along with the lads when the band strikes up a chord. I sold my old guitar at 25 and this book made me buy another at 38.
Just by chance I started this book on the grounds of the Hemmingway house while on vacation and I know the musings of Kirwan would make Papa smile.

Thank you Mr. Larry Kirwan, I just picked up your latest work and am just as impressed early on.

Daniel C. Laursen

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little background information is helpful, September 5, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Liverpool Fantasy: A Novel (Paperback)

For those who have a hard time understanding the backdrop for this alter universe, one should do a little research on British Parliament and, in particular, Enoch Powell. The book even has a bit of his infamous speech that led to his ousting from a higher position in the parliament to a much lower level of power. Just do a bit of research on this right wing racist and you will begin to understand the Liverpool that John lives in and despises circa 1987. It is a world, that because of The Beatles not having had the influence on the youth movement and because there never was a Swinging London, Enoch Powell and his facist views are in full bloom. Beatle fans might be familiar with the the catalog of songs or titled improvisational jams that were to make up alot of the Let It Be sessions. Paul was very in tune with the political backlash at the time regarding Enoch Powell's speech and titled one of his improvisations after the man. Paul and John continued on the same theme with "Commonwealth". The lyrics for "Get Back" were also a comment on the immigration situation into Great Britain.