Customer Reviews

Nab End and Beyond: The Road to Nab End and Beyond Nab End (Abacus)

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This is a story about a family during the early part of the twentieth century. It describes the severe hardships and endurance of the family who were workers in the cotton mills of Lancashire, England. Even though the conditions were very harsh, there is humor and a strong sense of family unity. William Woodruff, who writes this autobiography, gives a history of the plight of the millworkers and the events of these times. Poverty and a harsh class system were against them coupled with the General Strike and the Great Depression. Billy finally leaves Blackburn, Lancashire, at the age of sixteen and heads to London. Beyond Nab End tells the story of Billy's arrival in London, working in a foundry and finally going to Oxford on a scholarship. He describes his life at Oxford, the politics of the times then finally joining the British Army in 1940.

This book is very well written with meticulous details about life for the average worker of this period. It was a couldn't-put-down book for me. The author transcended his social status and beat a one-in-a-million odds or less to become a great writer.

This book took me back to my childhood in Liverpool England. Growing up inner city poor as well as in a 'labor' family, I related to many of the characters.
If you enjoy learning about other cultures and times, this is a good read for you.
There is not a lot of literary value in the book - but very worthwhile reading.