Helen Forrester, born June 6, 1919, in Hoylake, Cheshire (now in Merseyside), was a renowned English-born author, known by her pen name, Helen Forrester. She was the eldest of seven children born to middle-class, inept, socialite parents who lived on credit. Forrester's family life took a drastic turn during the Great Depression when her father's business failed, leaving them in dire financial straits. This period of her life would later inspire many of her works.
Forrester's most famous works are her memoirs, which detail her experiences growing up in Liverpool during the Great Depression. Her family's financial struggles forced her to leave school at a young age and fend for herself, providing a stark contrast to her privileged upbringing. These memoirs offer a unique perspective on the era and have captivated readers for generations.
In 1953, Forrester moved to Edmonton, Canada, where she continued to write and publish works of both fiction and non-fiction. Her writing encompassed a wide range of topics, from her personal experiences during the Great Depression to historical fiction and advice columns. Despite the challenges she faced in her early life, Forrester established herself as a prolific and successful author, leaving a lasting legacy in the literary world.