Rediscovering the long-lost memoir of a Manchester bookseller

'It was a miserable and insecure existence'

Dear members — today we have a lovely story about Manchester’s past. It’s about James Weatherley, a man who sold books in front of the Exchange and on St Peter’s Square, and whose little-known memoir offers a very unusual window into life here during the Industrial Revolution.

Mollie’s piece is also about the two men at Chetham’s Library who have dedicated years of their lives to researching Weatherley in order to publish his memoir in a fascinating new book.

If you haven’t got round to reading yesterday’s members’ newsletter yet, it’s a great guide to the Manchester Jazz scene and ends with a list of 10 recommended performances you can book in the next few months. You can find it online here.