The most collectable books to be published in Liverpool's 800th anniversary year: a five-volume anthology of writing about Liverpool and Merseyside
Quentin Hughes (1964)
Quite a long time ago, when I wrote this book, I was taking an Italian professor around Liverpool. He was impressed and, after a while, he turned to me and asked, ‘Do tell me, where do you get this wonderful black stone?’
“Bursting with brilliant writing inspired by Liverpool and the River Mersey, the Mersey Minis are a great way to read about Liverpool, whether you live here or know someone who'd love one, far away – a lovely pressie.” -- LiverpoolConfidential.com *****
"The research in unearthing so many quotable quotes about Liverpool has been phenomenal." -- Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post *****
"I was really impressed with the 'Mersey Minis' book..... it is a gem. It's quirky, charming and 'unputdownable'. The woodcuts by Clare Curtis compliment the book so well and give a sense of atmosphere and life to the text." -- Tom Muir, Orkney Boat Museum *****
"I took the Mersey Minis to th reading group I run in Hoylake Cottage Hospital. There are about ten in the group, all elderly and most can no longer hold a book or see to read; so for the last two weeks I have read from the Minis. I can't tell you how much they have enjoyed it. We had ots of laughs and shared so many memories, and everyone had a thoroughly good time."
-- Dr Angella Macmillan *****
"I was given your Vol I for a birthday present... the book is very handy for carrying around. I was at a really boring event the other night and was able to read it surreptitiously." -- Stephen Guy, local historian ****
"Mersey Minis presents Liverpool in miniature. A wonderful composite of the city - lovely to hold, and a delight to read." -- Margaret Murphy, crime novelist *****
"Great idea, lovely wee books" -- Dave Calder, poet and co-founder Windows Project *****
"What a very stylish - and eminently ransackable - collection!" -- Charles Nevin, journalist *****
"A wonderful idea and great choice of texts!" -- Christoph Grunenberg, director, Tate Liverpool *****
"A beautifully produced and fascinating book." -- Loyd Grossman *******
The striking illustrations were commissioned for Mersey Minis from artist Clare Curtis, and present her unique visual response to Liverpool. Clare follows a long tradition of British printmakers with her distinctive linocuts, which are imbued with a bold, contemporary feel. Felixstowe-based Clare demonstrates her empathy with the sea with maritime patterns and motifs appearing throughout her work.
These specially commissioned icons have been chosen for their multi-layered local references.
A note on the text
The extracts in Mersey Minis are reproduced from original sources, many of which are historic and therefore sometimes using styles and language unfamiliar to modern readers. I have, however, in most cases retained the original spellings, punctuation and sometimes the grammatical mistakes so as not to impede the energy and flow of the writer, and to reflect the uniqueness and idioisyncracy of his or her account.
The date given at the start of each extract is the date the writing refers to, and not necessarily when it was written or published.