Helen Walsh è una scrittrice nata vicino a Liverpool. Di lei è particolarmente interessante la storia personale: a 13 anni prova l’ecstasy e finisce in un gorgo che la vedrà scappare da casa a 16 anni e lavorare a Barcellona nel quartiere a luci rosse, dove organizza appuntamenti per travestiti e prostitute. Torna a Liverpool per iscriversi all’università dove si laurea in sociologia con una tesi sulle devianze sessuali. Scrive il suo primo libro come una sorta di cura, mentre è ancora studentessa all’università, e lo fa sul tavolo da cucina di sua madre. Queste informazioni sono ripetute ogniqualvolta si parla di lei ed anche quando la intervistano, le prime domande riguardano quasi sempre questo suo background. In effetti si tratta di una storia interessante e, soprattutto, di un recupero che ha quasi del miracoloso dopo una sbandata così colossale. Scrive di ciò che ha conosciuto, ovvero la vita dei sobborghi, la cruda realtà della droga, la ricerca di autodistruzione di alcuni giovani e lo fa in maniera molto cruda, tanto da essere definita una seguace del realismo moderno ed essere paragonata a Irvine Welsh… ma con un punto di vista femminile.
Il suo primo libro, Brass (che in Italia è stato tradotto con il titolo Senza pudore) mette in scena il personaggio di una prostituta adolescente: è il libro con cui ha esorcizzato la sua ribellione adolescenziale.
Una volta liberatasi di questo grande peso, la Walsh ha scritto Once Upon a Time in England, dove si è soffermata sui difficili rapporti familiari e sociali di una coppia mista nei sobborghi di Liverpool. L’ultimo libro, invece, è scaturito dall’esperienza della maternità: si intitola Go to Sleep e tratta della depressione post-parto di una madre. A quanto pare, scrive sempre di argomenti forti e li tratta in modo molto crudo, diretto, senza veli (e soprattutto senza ipocrisie). Ho deciso di leggere Once upon a Time in England che, tanto per cambiare, in italiano non esiste. Quindi l’ho ordinato in Inghilterra. Ho scelto questo libro e non Senza pudore perché non amo molto lo sfondo sessuale, nè il crudo realismo di Welsh e preferisco affondare il naso nei sobborghi di Liverpool… oltre ad essere incredibilmente attratta dal titolo Once Upon a Time in England. Visto che ho adorato il film Once upon a Time in America ho ritenuto che fosse un titolo di buon auspicio.
HELEN WALSH
Helen Walsh was born near Liverpool. Her personal story is particular and interesting: she tried drugs when she was only 13 and ended up running away from home at 16, working in the red light district in Barcelona and scheduling appointments for prostitutes and transvestites. She went back to Liverpool to attend university where she got a degree in sociology with a dissertation on sexual deviancy. She wrote her first book as a treatment, while she was still at university, and she used to write at her mother’s kitchen table.
That’s what comes up whenever someone talks or writes about her or during interviews (the first questions being almost always about her background). Yes, it’s an interesting story and, above all, it’s almost unnatural the way she got back up. She usually writes about what she has known, life in the suburbs, drugs, self-destructive young characters… and she does so with a very ‘crude’ style. That’s why she has been referred to as a modern realist like Irvine Welsh… but with a feminine point of view.
Her first book, Brass has an adolescent prostitute as its protagonist: that’s how she exorcised her adolescent rebellion.
Once she unburdened herself, Ms Walsh wrote Once Upon a Time in England, where she explored difficult family and social relationships in the suburbs of Liverpool. Instead, her last book comes from her personal experience of maternity: it’s called Go to Sleep and is about postpartum depression. She often writes about hard topics and her style is direct. I’ve chosen Once Upon a Time in England that, as usual, has never been translated in Italian. So, I’ve ordered it in the UK. My choice is due to the fact that I prefer to bury my nose into a story set in the suburbs of Liverpool… besides being attracted by that title: since I’ve simply adored the film Once Upon a Time in America (it’s a masterpiece!!!) I find that title a good omen for a book.
HELEN WALSH
Helen Walsh was born near Liverpool. Her personal story is particular and interesting: she tried drugs when she was only 13 and ended up running away from home at 16, working in the red light district in Barcelona and scheduling appointments for prostitutes and transvestites. She went back to Liverpool to attend university where she got a degree in sociology with a dissertation on sexual deviancy. She wrote her first book as a treatment, while she was still at university, and she used to write at her mother’s kitchen table.
That’s what comes up whenever someone talks or writes about her or during interviews (the first questions being almost always about her background). Yes, it’s an interesting story and, above all, it’s almost unnatural the way she got back up. She usually writes about what she has known, life in the suburbs, drugs, self-destructive young characters… and she does so with a very ‘crude’ style. That’s why she has been referred to as a modern realist like Irvine Welsh… but with a feminine point of view.
Her first book, Brass has an adolescent prostitute as its protagonist: that’s how she exorcised her adolescent rebellion.
Once she unburdened herself, Ms Walsh wrote Once Upon a Time in England, where she explored difficult family and social relationships in the suburbs of Liverpool. Instead, her last book comes from her personal experience of maternity: it’s called Go to Sleep and is about postpartum depression. She often writes about hard topics and her style is direct. I’ve chosen Once Upon a Time in England that, as usual, has never been translated in Italian. So, I’ve ordered it in the UK. My choice is due to the fact that I prefer to bury my nose into a story set in the suburbs of Liverpool… besides being attracted by that title: since I’ve simply adored the film Once Upon a Time in America (it’s a masterpiece!!!) I find that title a good omen for a book.
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