The Manchester Man
Isabella Varley Banks
Read by Phil Benson
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) (15 hr 35 min)
Chapters
Reviews
Marvelous Storytelling!
jbrown
This is one of the best books I’ve listened to and Phil Benson is flawless! He slips frequently into the dialect of the time and place which adds to the already heady pace of the story. The character development is superb and makes one care about every character and what happens next. I couldn’t put it down!
Eternity... not infinitely engaging.
Avid Listener
Seems to go on forever. Had many engaging parts. Historical fiction that gives a glimpse into what life was like. Good narrator.