The Manchester Man


Read by Phil Benson

(4.6 stars; 11 reviews)

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

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

Reviews

Marvelous Storytelling!


(5 stars)

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.


(3 stars)

Seems to go on forever. Had many engaging parts. Historical fiction that gives a glimpse into what life was like. Good narrator.