We are a capable bunch of historians at Manchester, so confident in our historical knowledge. What a terrible thought it is, then that one day, in the distant future, our accuracy and arguments might be arrogantly mocked by twenty sixth century history students. Sitting on their virtual swivel chairs, stroking their virtual beards (yes, the […]
For most people who go see ‘The Iron Lady’, there are a couple of questions that they probably wanted to ask before hand: how will Thatcher be portrayed in this? And why couldn’t they wait until she had died to make a movie about her? People have said they believe she will not be portrayed […]
The Real Sherlock Holmes sees a chronological and detailed account of the life of Victorian detective Jerome Caminada, Manchester’s first Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Superintendent. Finally revealing his story in full, author Angela Buckley traces back deep into the heart of Victorian Manchester’s criminal underworld. The biography begins with the birth of Caminada in Deansgate […]
Over the past 50+ years, the rights of LGBT+ people have gone from relatively non-existent to an almost equal standing with heterosexual, cisgendered people. The UK is one of the foremost countries leading the change in how LGBT+ people are treated, and last year we were able to celebrate 50 years since the Sexual Offences […]
There has been debate as to why the English are neglected in studies of Enlightenment. Marsak, in his ‘The Enlightenment’ presents no readings from English writers and Erick Cassirer does not help either by omitting such English thinkers as Bentham, Paine and Adam Smith from his ‘The Philosophy of the Enlightenment’. Against this tide stands […]
Fac 51 The Haçienda was more than a music venue, it was the birthplace of rave culture. The showroom factory turned club was iconic for its yellow and black striped tape, and shabby warehouse look. Established to challenge existing nightclubs, it offered a completely different style of nightlife within Manchester. Its popularity streamed from its […]
Even if you have not, by some stroke of luck or misfortune, seen any of the James Bond films, it is very likely that you have at least heard of the franchise. This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond film Dr. No, and we are now on the sixth actor […]
When it comes to lifestyles that involve conversing with celebrities Frank Sinatra and Barbara Windsor; appearing in famous interviews or being photographed by David Bailey, the life of an infamous gangster is the last thing that springs to mind. Yet, for Ronnie and Reggie Kray, living in 1960s London, crime was a fact of life; […]
The roots of the modern university can be traced as far back as eleventh-century Italy. The University of Bologna – thought to have been founded in 1088 – was the first university to take on a similar appearance to the modern university with which we are familiar today. Initially specialising in scholarship of grammar, rhetoric […]
“Reality is as thin as paper, and betrays with all its cracks its imitative character. A hundred times I had to try and test its taut skin with my hands, and had found it hopelessly botched.” These are the words of Jewish Galician writer Bruno Schulz, a globally relevant artist and painter, particularly recognised among […]
Friedrich Engels, by virtue of a statue in Deansgate, is ingrained in the heart of the city of Manchester. But how did a German man, who co-wrote the communist manifesto, become a Mancunian icon? What does Manchester owe to him? On May 3rd, 2021, Northern Ireland commemorated its 100th anniversary as a separate legal entity […]
It was a miserable wet and windy Wednesday afternoon and I was on my way back to Manchester from spending a few days at home for reading week, excited at the prospect of interviewing one of my favourite professors, Frank Mort, and to see what interesting facts he was going to share from his expert […]
‘The place was beginning to depress me. It was not only the dirt, the smells and the vile food, but the feelings of stagnant meaningless decay.’ Those were the words of George Orwell in his hugely influential social survey, The Road to Wigan Pier, when recounting the bleak realities of life amongst the industrial working […]
David Bowie morphed from character to character, challenging every norm along the way. In his most iconic stage persona, as Ziggy Stardust, he stated that he wanted “to tart rock up.” Aladdin Sane was his next, often remembered for his lightning bolt portrait on the album cover. He courageously defied all gender binaries in his […]
