J P Maxwell author of “Water Street” will be visiting Stockbridge Village Library on 24th October at 11am. He will be chatting all about the inspiration behind his book “Water Street” which although fictional has direct links to Irish and African family history in Liverpool and Liverpool’s involvement in the American Civil War. It is free to attend, either book your ticket via Eventbrite or by popping into a branch.

JP Maxwell has a background ranging from studying Russian at University College London to working for a Californian Software company and running a newspaper kiosk, JP Maxwell settled back in Liverpool in 2001 and now teaches Screenwriting and Digital Writing at Liverpool John Moores University. Although fictional, Water Street directly links to an Irish and African family history in the port city and specifically Toxteth since the early 1800s. In addition the book is based upon Liverpool’s clandestine involvement in the American Civil War/

Water Street is a highly entertaining novel set in the summer of 1863, and features murder and mayhem involving Union and Confederate spies trying to outwit each other and advance their respective causes with the British government. Author JP Maxwell centres his tale around two women – Harriet Dunwoody and her creole companion Conté Louverture. Harriet is married to a grotesque man called Banastre Xavier Dunwoody, an ardent and violent secessionist who plans to swing the support of Britain’s government – led by a seriously ill Lord Palmerston – behind the cause of Jefferson Davies and the Confederate States. Harriet is playing a very dangerous double game, along with Conté, as they conspire behind Dunwoody’s back to thwart local efforts to boost support for the Confederacy. In doing so, they enlist the aid of a rather ramshackle band of Irish nationalists, led by a thug called Royston Chubb.