By: Frederick Anthony Wilkinson
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This collection of short stories and vignettes is at once sad, humorous, and inspiring, set against the backdrop of the Diaspora. Woven from the recollections and experiences of childhood in a society divided by religion, expectations, despair, and hope, it tells the tales of those who crossed the Lagan in search of a better life. This canvas captures the fleeting nature of the Church’s influence and control, and the contempt for its hypocrisy.
Born in Belfast, educated in St. Marys Grammar School until aged 14 when the family left for a new life in Coventry where Frederick attended Ullathorne and Bablake Grammar Schools. On leaving University he travelled around the world, employed in a variety of jobs from teaching to working in mines, and Telecoms in Australia, Africa, Asia and America. On returning to UK, Frederick became sales director in Africa, Europe and Middle East. He was recruited by HRM to work in Poland, Ukraine and Russia.
Probably the most unusual and fascinating books that I have ever read. The Author has managed to encapsulate Belfast, with its people and even places further afield through a period in his life from a young boy to adulthood. His characters, events, family and social relationships all come to life and are not imaginary; they each represent an artistry in writing to a degree that the level of detail can have been born only of reality and truth. Mr Wilkinson has shown throughout his individual narratives nothing judgmental or self-opinionated but has cleverly left anything of that nature in the safe hands of the reader. How interesting also to experience the people, the complexity and so many of the varied elements that can have only existed in the unique City of Belfast; but what a joy to embrace and digest them via the extremities of humour and sadness, laughter and tears. I shall read this book yet again, and I am so pleased to have chosen its author to share with me such interesting recollections from his formative years.
Have recently read this this highly entertaining book. As an expatriate Irishman , now an Austrslian of many years, the stories brought me back to the characters and ways of Ireland as it was when I lived there. The tales are sometimes whimsical and laugh inspiring or sad but hopeful or even going into the land of fairy tales reminding me of my childhood. Highly recommended.
A very entertaining book. The author has a great sense of humor and the ability to convey a pictorial view of his early life in Northern Ireland, all whilst using the most expressive language. Clearly, he has managed to combine the most eloquent words with stories rooted in the deep Irish culture of the time. This series of short stories is a very easy book to read, allowing the reader to dip in and out of the text at will. Humor, sadness and the grit of real life are all there. Highly recommended
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