Forrester, Helen

(British, 1919– )

Helen Forrester was born in Hoylake, Cheshire, and lived for many years in Liverpool. She then emigrated to Canada and is now a Canadian citizen. She has written non-fiction as well as fiction, including a best-selling autobiography, Twopence to Cross the Mersey (1974), which continues in three further volumes. Many of her novels also describe working-class life in 1930s' Liverpool. Typical is Liverpool Daisy (1979), the story of a good Catholic wife who is accidentally led into prostitution, and carries on in order to earn the money she so desperately needs. The novel is funny and dark in turn. Try also Thursday's Child, first published as Alien there is None (1959), about a Lancashire girl in love with an Indian student, and The Moneylenders of Shahpur (1987), a love-story set in India.

Lyn Andrews, Harry Bowling, Nell Dunn  SA