Manson's Bristol Miscellany
Manson's Bristol Miscellany
How much do you know about Bristol? Why does it look the way it looks? What secrets do its streets hide? What stories could its buildings tell if they had a voice?
Michael Manson takes you on a search to find the soul of the city where he has lived for more than 45 years.
The Bristol Miscellany began as a compendium of random facts and has grown into a treasure trove of tales from the city’s rich and diverse history; from hidden rivers, medieval walls and public protests to links with slavery, prisons, and the treatment of mental illness.
It’s a literary ‘curiosity shop’ of bitesize pieces of interest from Bristol’s past, from Britain’s first woman doctor to Bristol Cars.
Dip in and learn things about Bristol you didn’t know before and perhaps you’ll not only see the city in a new light but be inspired to embark upon your own voyage of discovery.
Click here to view a sample pdf of the book
Pages: 160
Full colour with over 120 illustrations
Hardback
ISBN: 9781909446267
Size: 180mm x 240mm
“An indispensable compendium of Bristol ephemera for streetwalking and armchair explorers alike! Whether it’s the Picton Street lock-up you’re looking for, or the Turkish Baths on College Green; Charles Heal’s celebrated Moon Rocket or where to find a scarlet lychnis, Manson’s Miscellany will take you there. Dig in and enjoy!”
“A wonderful read and a beautifully illustrated book. Michael’s many stories about Bristol help us learn about the past to understand the present and build new futures.”
“An excellent, accessible guide to Bristol’s past. A perfect point of reference for newcomers, for those long-settled and for lay or professional historians. Michael’s curiosities are so close to my own I wondered if he had read my mind. ”
“ The result of a long love-affair with the city, and a splendid introduction to all the important milestones in Bristol’s history, with plenty of oddities and surprises for those who think they know it already.”
About Michael Manson
Michael is the author of four history books on Bristol including: Bristol Beyond the Bridge (Redcliffe), Riot! The Bristol Bridge Massacre of 1793 (Tangent Books), The Hidden History of St Andrews (Past & Present Press), and Vice and Virtue. Discovering the Story of Old Market, Bristol (with Dr Edson Burton) (Bristol Books).
Michael is co-founder of the Bristol Short Story Prize (2008) and is an organiser of the Bristol Festival of Literature (2010 to present). He currently edits Bristol Civic Society’s magazine Better Bristol. He was also co-editor of the Bristol Review of Books (2006-13).
Mike has also written three novels. In 2015 his Bristol-based novel Where’s My Money? was selected by BBC TV as one of their Books that Made Britain. The Jamaica Gleaner described Mike’s recent novel, Down in Demerara, as ‘story telling at its best’.
