Books … authors and lots more to come …. from Chorlton Book Festival

 It’s the book festival that just keeps giving.

So last night it was the turn of Brian Groom to introduce his new book "Made in Manchester A People’s History of the City Shaped the Modern World".

Brian gave a fascinating historical account of our city from the Palaeolithic to the 21st century, featuring people who shaped the city from the great and good to those who history has tended to ignore and along the way raised questions about the nature of some of the developments.

What I particularly liked was the way Brian tailored his presentation to include aspects of Chorlton’s history, making it a more personalized and unique talk which was appreciated by the 50 or so people in the audience.

Brian signs his new book, 2024

And not to be outdone some of the neighbouring areas got a look in including praise for many of Rochdale’s working class who during the American Civil War stood behind the cause of the North, and offered up the surprising fact that other towns had held meetings in favour of the south which is that sort of insight which shakes the trees of established and received history.

After which there was time for questions some of which fell back on the history of Chorlton and in the course of which Brian revealed he was born in Stretford Memorial and grew up in Whalley Range, which rather caped the night for many who were there.

Waiting for Brian's talk, 2024

So having enjoyed Brian’s talk I will be at Benito Lounge, on Tuesday September 24th between 12 and 2pm to hear Jo Somerset will introduce "Mission find Mum" which is aimed at children  Chorlton and is an "introduction to the adventures of Isla and Lac in a mission that takes them 500 miles from home to an island of secrets". 

The old Parish church and graveyard, circa 1860-1884

And lastly Juliette Tomlinson will be at the Edge on the 24th between 2 and 4pm to introduce her new novel on the John and Enriqueta Rylands.

But it would be remis of me not to mention the history walk at 2 pm from the Narnia lamp post on the green.

When we will walk our past from the village green to the old parish church and by degree on to the Edge Theatre, via the Great Chorlton Burial Scandal, bull baiting and other illegal practices as well a visit from the army of the Young Pretender, a lost water course and the murders of Mary Moore and Francis Deacon.

As they once said .... "What's it got? .... its got the lot".

Narnia on the green, 2024

All events are bookable through Chorlton Book Festival, https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/chorlton-book-festival-2024-3536319

Location; Chorlton

Pictures; books, authors, a festival and the Narnia lamppost, 2024 from the collection of Andrew Simpson, and the old Parish church and graveyard, circa 1860-1884, courtesy of Tony Walker