Product Description

Set in Liverpool in the 1930s, Bridget O'Brien, a young widow with two children, arrives from Ireland to start a new life married to a man she has never met and whose twin sons are older than she is.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #389253 in Books
• Published on: 1997-04-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 572 pages

From the Back Cover
To the Liverpool of the 1930's came Bridget O'Brien, a young widow with two children, about to be forced into marriage with a man she had never met. Her destination was the infamous Scotland Road, where the people lived lives of deprivation and courage backed by rich tradition and a folklore they had themselves evolved.

For Bridget, straight from Ireland, fleeing from a brutal and bigoted father, Scotland Road was, at first, noisome and terrifying. Her sense of isolation was made worse when she met her middle-aged bridegroom, Sam Bell, whose twin sons were older than she was.

It was the rough and vibrant Costigan family who first made her welcome. Diddy, and Billy, her docker husband, did their best to ease the young widow into her new life. Anthony, one of her so-called stepsons, also held out the strong hand of friendship, but Liam, the favourite of his father, had the power to terrify her. Liam was cold, compelling, mysterious and antagonistic. He was also a priest.

Through the depression of the 30s and the savagery of the Second World War, the story of Bridie, her daughters, and the two men who were to shape her destiny was played out.

One of the greatest and most moving novels ever written about a gallant, tough and richly individual people, who created and lived in an era now gone for ever.

About the Author
Ruth Hamilton
Ruth Hamilton is the bestselling author of A Whisper to the Living, With Love from Ma Maguire, Nest of Sorrows, Billy London's Girls, Spinning Jenny, The September Starlings, A Crooked Mile, Paradise Lane, The Bells of Scotland Road, The Dream Sellers, The Corner House, Miss Honoria West and Mulligan's Yard. She has become one of the most popular authors who recreate the lives and places of the north-west of England. Ruth Hamilton was born in Bolton and has spent most of her life in Lancashire. She now lives in Liverpool.

Customer Reviews

An all around good story
I really liked this book. It was easy to keep track of what was going on and Ruth Hamilton always told what was going on at different places throughout the book. It takes place mostly in the years before WWII and partly during the war. It's a good account of how people lived in England and how they managed to scrape by. It has good characters and it is a very believable story. The descriptions that Ruth Hamilton makes are very vivid and I wouldn't mind reading more of her books after reading this one. The other nice thing about this book is that many of the places she wrote about in this book are real and that makes it easier to relate to even if you've never been there.

WONDERFL
This is the kind of book that once you have started it, you cant put it down. Ruth Hamilton gives a true illustration of how life was in scotland Road, the people , the places everything was wonderfully written and she kept you captivated throughout the whole book. I was so impressed i have just started reading The corner house which is equally as good.

Well-plotted family saga,engrossing lightweight read.
The Bells of Scotland Road is just the thing for a long winter's eve or a spell on the plane.The characters are well-described.The plot has enough twists and turns to keep you reading on and just the right touch of evil intent.Makes you wish that there might be a next volume about the younger characters.Throughly enjoyed the book and will definitely order another or 2 of Hamilton's books.