Manchester, England [suggested by Noel Fagan]

The definitive account of the pop cult capital of the UK by Dave Haslam, one of Manchester’s top DJs and journalists.

Manchester, a predominantly working-class city, away from the nation’s capital, has been at the margins of English culture for centuries. The explosion of music and creativity in Manchester can be traced back from Victorian music hall and the jazz age, to Northern Soul and rock and roll, through to acid house and Oasis. But its roots are in Manchester’s history as a melting pot of popular idealism and dissent, from the industrial revolution on, via film, theatre, comedy and TV. And for Manchester, read England and the world.

Dave Haslam is uniquely placed to tell this story – Manchester, England is as witty, erudite and passionate as you would expect from a man who can say, again and again, “I was there”. Like Jon Savage’s England’s Dreaming, this is the last word on the abiding centre of 40 years of UK pop culture. [Product description from Amazon]

About the Author

Wikipedia page.
Author’s website.

Shortlisted for this month

This month we all (*cough*) brought a suggestion based on the theme of “the North-West”. Manchester, England was the runaway popular choice, the only other suggestion that received more than 1 vote was:

Lady: My Life as a Bitch [suggested by Chris Cooper]

A sexually active, rebellious teenager is transformed into a confused and frightened dog by a tramp with magical powers. Sandra has a lot of growing up to do quickly if she is to survive as a scrounging stray in a rough dogs’ world. She experiences all the physical aspects of being a dog, including running with a pack and going on heat. She must decide whether she wants to recover her humanity, and if so how to do it – doubly difficult as her brain is reduced to the scattered consciousness of a dog. [Product description from Amazon]

About the Author

Wikipedia page.
Author’s website.

Honourable Mentions

Other suggestions (each with one vote or fewer – ahem):
The Lathe of Heaven (Ursula K le Guin)
The Manchester Man (Mrs G Linnaeus-Banks)
The Curry Mile (Zahid Hussain)
Love On The Dole (Walter Greenwood)