'Hell on earth': was anywhere more hated than the Manchester of 200 years ago?

Historical voices tell us that even Liverpool — yes, Liverpool — was considered equivalent to a rest cure after too much time in this cursed city

Dear members: not everybody likes Manchester. This is an unfortunate fact, but there’s no accounting for taste. Some people bemoan its climate, a Hungarian friend of mine who lived here briefly had more specific reasons: everyone was very loud, all the time, especially after drinking. Also, women here constantly wear shoes with no socks, which she found unsanitary.

But this hate pales in comparison to the scathing reviews Manchester collected more than 200 years ago, when it was at the height of its industrial powers. Thomas McGrath takes a deep dive. But before that: punks in love and our tree stats stir up some debate.