Historical
Living and working on Cunard’s iconic liners like Queen Mary, two Cunard Yanks meet the famous film stars and jazz musicians who are crossing the Atlantic. They get to know New York City and hear singers like Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly, while home in Liverpool they see the early Beatles playing skiffle before moving on to Merseybeat.
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It is 1954. Steve and Dave are looking for adventure. Their home town of Liverpool is scarred by war. New York is the future and it will soon be the richest city in the world. They need to see it and feel the excitement. They need to be there. They need to become Cunard Yanks.
Cunard Yanks were British men, mostly young, who worked on Cunard ships from the 1940s to the early 1960s on the transatlantic routes, mainly between Liverpool and New York. American consumer goods, fashions and music which they brought to Liverpool gave the city a special awareness of popular American culture.
New York is their second home at a time when few British people go there. They see Buddy Holly play at the famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem and watch Pee Wee Marquette introduce Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie at Birdland. They visit Jack Dempsey’s Bar and shake the great man’s hand. And catch the A-line to Coney Island before watching Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field.
American clothes and records, and gifts of stockings and perfume, are a hit with the girls back home, while American music inspires groups like the Beatles who play at the Cavern and the Casbah, as well as at the Kaiserkeller in Hamburg, before finally presenting their Merseybeat version of rock ‘n’ roll to the world.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
I really enjoyed Cunard Yanks. The story cleverly incorporates many overlapping elements which link together so well. I don’t want to spoil it for others by giving too much away, but I particularly liked reading about the very early Beatles, life on board Cunard transatlantic liners, Cepe Suzette, the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls and George Harrison’s various guitars. All woven together to make a really great story. I’ll be loaning a copy to a friend from Liverpool, who knew Paul McCartney when he was young. I’m quite sure she will greatly enjoy it.
I’ve just finished reading ‘Cunard Yanks’ which I purchased from Waterstones. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks very much
A fascinating story of the Cunard Yanks, life in Liverpool and New York in the 1950s and 60s and the American music influence in the UK. A gripping story and a good read.
