Lance Armstrong: seven times Tour de France winner, cancer survivor, and the biggest drugs cheat in the history of sport. Before 2012-2013 Lance Armstrong was considered by many to be the greatest cyclist the sport had ever seen. He had won the illustrious Tour de France a record-breaking seven consecutive times in 1999, 2000, 2001, […]
From all of us here at the Manchester Historian we hope all our contributors and readers have a wonderful summer break. We’ll be back in September bringing you all the history you’ve been missing. Good luck to everyone leaving us this summer and the biggest thank you to our editorial team, Laura, Jamie and Thomas. […]
It is now nearly one year since the reopening of the Manchester Central Library to the public in March 2014, after three years of closure for renovation work. Perhaps the stated goal of the council prior to the opening, that the library would become ‘Manchester’s living room’, was a little too ambitious, but it remains […]
Our podcast service is available to listen to on SoundCloud and Apple Podcasts! Make sure to like, and subscribe to be sure you keep up with all of our exciting new episodes. Episode 5: Callum Discusses the Colombian Exchange Episode 4: The Online Team Discuss Remembrance Day Episode 3: Nicola Discusses Black History Month Episode […]
This wonderful documentary tells the story of the 168 fearless women who provided vital support to the RAF in transporting planes from factory to aerodrome throughout the war; the Air Transport Auxiliary. Constantly subjected to sexism and underappreciated for their bravery and hard work, it was fascinating to see how these young, mainly upper class […]
It’s a valid question. Why spend at least another three or four years slaving away to write the longest piece of work you’ve ever had to struggle with? Well, as any PhD student will tell you, it is hard, but it is also one of the most rewarding experiences you can have at University. In […]
Toni Morrison, beloved American author and literary scholar, is best remembered for her razor-sharp prose. In the wake of her death in 2019, scholars have revisited her life’s works, revealing a depth of understanding of black American history previously unappreciated. Angela Davis, a lifelong friend of Morrison and a prominent black radical, spoke of her […]
The Meiji period (1868-1912) was a defining moment in Japanese history for reforming the nation’s society and economy to compete with that of Western countries. The Meiji Restoration was a movement spearheaded by government officials, which prioritized the “modernisation” of Japan by abolishing the previous feudal Tokugawa shogunate and changing existing social, economic and political […]
Although Christmas Carolling may be a dwindling practice, its history is rich and plenty. Today it is less common to hear carollers singing outside your door between the 21st December and Christmas morning. However it is guaranteed that you will hear all the favourites – ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’, ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’ […]
Pick of the Gigs Cloud Nothings – Saturday 18th March – Deaf Institute Glass Animals – Saturday 18th March – Albert Hall Temples – Tuesday 28th March – Academy 2 Run the Jewels – Friday 31st March – Albert Hall Soulwax – Sunday 9th April – O2 Ritz Other events on in Manchester Andy Warhol […]
While advertising originally evolved to answer the needs of industry, it is now a key element of the political world too. Thom Iddon looks at how political leaders have used advertising. James Lees-Milne was a key figure in the National Trust during the Second World War and in post-war Britain when private owners were forced […]
The harsh conditions and horrific nature of World War One are well documented, from having to live in trenches and deal with hazardous weather conditions to killing an enemy soldier and paying the ultimate price. What is often overlooked is perhaps the biggest hurdle British soldiers had to face, the mental challenge. It is hard […]
When George V died on January 20, 1936, Prince Edward became King Edward VIII. However, nobody was to foresee just how short-lived his reign would be. When Edward VIII proposed marriage to Wallis Simpson in 1936, a constitutional crisis emerged in the British Empire. The crisis commenced in October 1936, when Wallis Simpson was granted […]
How did Japan, under occupation by the Allied forces, in 1945-1952 transform into one of the world’s most developed countries? When looking at the images of devastation caused by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the 6 and 9 August 1945 by the USA, it is hard to imagine that Japan would […]