Manchester is the dramatic backdrop to literary classics, such as Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South, and lesser-known works, such as Isabella Banks’s The Manchester Man. The city has been at the forefront of industrial change and political radicalism but what about literature? How have events from the Industrial Revolution to Peterloo inspired writers? How are the lives of the Manchester inhabitants reflected in industrial and social-problem novels?

This intriguing new talk offers a glimpse at Manchester’s role in Victorian literature and its portrayal on the page. Join researcher Michelle Ravenscroft to celebrate Lancashire Day with a special talk exploring the literary stories of Manchester.

‘Very interesting talks. Excellent speakers. These talks make reading Gaskell and others a much richer experience.’ ​Previous audience member