Lancashire, Where Women Die of Love

Enough!Forfartoolong,Lancashirehaslanguishedunderthegrimypallofsmokeandmuckandmillsandmines,envelopedinoutdatedcondescensions,smotheredbytheeasydismissalsthatputdownthenorthofEnglandasjust'upthere'and'grim'.Thankyouverymuch,GeorgeOrwell,MontyPythonandeveryLondoncabbie.ButLancashireisnotupthere.LancsisactuallysituatedinthecentreoftheBritishIsles.Andfarfrombeinggrim,itisaplaceofwitandwonder,romanceandsurprise,alandofexoticinfluencewhosepeoplehavealwayslookedoutwardtosophisticationsandinfluencesbeyondfrontiersandseas.Indeed,FrenchwriterHonordeBalzacrecognisedtheseaffinitiesandyearningsintheLancashirepeoplewhenhehadoneofhischaractersdeclarethat'Lancashireisthecountywherewomendieoflove'.Mockifyoulike,butthenthinkaboutit:whereisthemagnificentthoroughfarethatinspiredtheboulevardsofParis?WheredidtheygotofilmBriefEncounter,themostromanticBritishfilmevermade?WhichcityinformedthegreatvisionofC.G.Jung?WheredidtheyoungShakespearedreamofanddrawonforhisinspiredimaginings?WheredoyouthinkBritain'sonlybullfighter,thedoughtyElIngles,isfrom?WherewillthenewLasVegasbe?JoinCharlesNevin,FleetStreetjournalistandhumorist,ashereturnstohisrootsandrevealsallthisandmore.DiscoverthetrueCamelotandthebeautythatisrugbyleague.SeewhereLancastriansgotodiebutfirstvisitLostLancashireanditsgreattwincities,ManchesterandLiverpool.MulloverwhyBritain'sgreatestcomics,fromLaureltoCoogan,FormbytoVegas,DoddtoKay,FieldstoWood,MorecambeandDawson,haveallcomefromLancs.Merecoincidence?Giveover,andreadon...