The Manchester Man

Isabella Varley Banks (1821 - 1897)

Jabez Clegg, the Manchester man, floats into this historical novel in 1799, carried downstream by the River Irk in flood. Jabez's rise to commercial success mirrors the rise of the city at the heart of the industrial revolution. Mrs George Linnaeus Banks (nee Isabella Varley) weaves a web of historical fact and fiction in a fast-paced story built around the rivalry between the Jabez and his nemesis Laurence Aspinall, and the fate of Augusta Ashton, who is loved by both but loves only one. An entertaining fictional journey through the early 19th century history of the city of Manchester, the book also has serious points to make about women's choices and domestic violence. (Summary by Phil Benson)

Genre(s): Historical Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Chapter I: The Flood Phil Benson
00:16:21
Play 02 Chapter II: No One Knows Phil Benson
00:18:55
Play 03 Chapter III: How the Rev. Joshua Brookes and Simon Clegg Interpreted a Shakesperian Text Phil Benson
00:18:49
Play 04 Chapter IV: Mischief Phil Benson
00:16:58
Play 05 Chapter V: Ellen Chadwick Phil Benson
00:20:53
Play 06 Chapter VI: To Martial Music Phil Benson
00:17:05
Play 07 Chapter VII: The Reverend Joshua Brookes Phil Benson
00:16:16
Play 08 Chapter VIII: The Blue-Coat School Phil Benson
00:17:53
Play 09 Chapter IX: The Snake Phil Benson
00:18:39
Play 10 Chapter X: First Antagonism Phil Benson
00:16:36
Play 11 Chapter XI: The Blue-Coat Boy Phil Benson
00:21:24
Play 12 Chapter XII: The Gentleman Phil Benson
00:10:52
Play 13 Chapter XIII: Simon's Pupil Phil Benson
00:15:19
Play 14 Chapter XIV: Jabez Goes Out Into The World Phil Benson
00:18:30
Play 15 Chapter XV: Apprenticeship Phil Benson
00:17:55
Play 16 Chapter XVI: In War And Peace Phil Benson
00:19:47
Play 17 Chapter XVII: In The Warehouse Phil Benson
00:18:53
Play 18 Chapter XVIII: Easter Monday Phil Benson
00:17:37
Play 19 Chapter XIX: Peterloo Phil Benson
00:27:16
Play 20 Chapter XX: Action And Reaction Phil Benson
00:17:04
Play 21 Chapter XXI: Wounded Phil Benson
00:17:05
Play 22 Chapter XXII: Mr. Clegg Phil Benson
00:17:15
Play 23 Chapter XXIII: In The Theatre Royal Phil Benson
00:15:24
Play 24 Chapter XXIV: Madame Broadbent's Fan Phil Benson
00:17:56
Play 25 Chapter XXV: Retrospective Phil Benson
00:18:48
Play 26 Chapter XXVI: On The Portico Steps Phil Benson
00:17:27
Play 27 Chapter XXVII: Manhood Phil Benson
00:15:26
Play 28 Chapter XXVIII: Once In A Life Phil Benson
00:17:43
Play 29 Chapter XXIX: On Ardwick Green Pond Phil Benson
00:21:33
Play 30 Chapter XXX: Blind Phil Benson
00:16:51
Play 31 Chapter XXXI: Coronation Day Phil Benson
00:19:57
Play 32 Chapter XXXII: Evening: Indoors And Out Phil Benson
00:18:48
Play 33 Chapter XXXIII: Clogs Phil Benson
00:18:10
Play 34 Chapter XXXIV: Birds Of A Feather Phil Benson
00:15:15
Play 35 Chapter XXXV: At Carr's Cottage Phil Benson
00:19:24
Play 36 Chapter XXXVI: The Lovers' Walk Phil Benson
00:19:01
Play 37 Chapter XXXVII: A Ride On A Rainy Night Phil Benson
00:17:58
Play 38 Chapter XXXVIII: Defeated Phil Benson
00:17:10
Play 39 Chapter XXXIX: Like Father, Like Son Phil Benson
00:16:19
Play 40 Chapter XL: With All His Faults Phil Benson
00:16:42
Play 41 Chapter XLI: Marriage Phil Benson
00:18:57
Play 42 Chapter XLII: Blows Phil Benson
00:20:46
Play 43 Chapter XLIII: Partnership Phil Benson
00:20:58
Play 44 Chapter XLIV: Man And Beast Phil Benson
00:21:19
Play 45 Chapter XLV: Wounds Inflicted And Endured Phil Benson
00:19:19
Play 46 Chapter XLVI: The Mower With His Scythe Phil Benson
00:17:22
Play 47 Chapter XLVII: The Last Act Phil Benson
00:27:29
Play 48 Appendix 1 & 2 Phil Benson
00:14:41
Play 49 Final Appendix (Historical) Phil Benson
00:57:22