Events, Exhibitions & Treasures from the Collection
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October —December, 2019 Quarterly Events, Exhibitions & Treasures from the Collection Features 4 Note from the Librarian The Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society 5 Library News The Society of Readers and Writers Booking Now Open For Autumn 2019 Quarterly October—December, 2019 6 Library News HH Judge D A Stockdale Resilient Heritage Project update Thursday 24th October, 7.00 pm - RNCM 7 Exhibition Crime & Punishment - Why Do We Punish Offenders? Second Nature: What is the purpose of punishment by the State? Why do we punish offenders at all? These issues have been discussed by political and moral philosophers for centuries - perhaps most notably by What does ‘nature’ mean anyway? Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. David Stockdale, Senior Circuit Judge, the Resident Judge at Manchester Crown Court and the Honorary Recorder of Manchester, will revisit the thinking of the early proponents of Utilitarianism and Retributivism and measures their principles against 7 Event Listings the framework, laid down by Parliament, which underpins the sentencing of offenders today. 10 Library Review Professor Callum Roberts Nicole Peeters Wednesday 30th October 2019, 7.00 pm - RNCM Coral Reefs And The Future Of The World 11 What’s on the Shelves? We have transformed from inhabitants of this world to architects of its Steve Smith future. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the realm of coral reefs. Callum Roberts, author of ‘Ocean of Life’ and ‘Reef Life’, will describe how the coral reefs’ struggle for survival tells us some- 12 Library Treasures thing urgent and important – we need to change course now Walter Fung if we are to leave a world fit for generations yet to come. Dr Alan Crosby 14 Adopt-a-Book Wednesday 6th November, 7.00 pm - RNCM Richard Ogden Place-Names And The Medieval Landscape In The Manchester Area 15 Volunteer Story Alan Crosby, author of more than thirty books and numerous articles, specialises in the social and landscape history of North West England. Place-names are a key source of information about past Kirsten Drew landscapes, their settlement and their exploitation. This lecture will focus on Greater Manchester and the adjacent area, looking at the elements or linguistic building blocks which make up the names themselves, and showing how they may be mapped, plotted and interpreted. Place names are defining markers of modern society – and they have much to tell us about how the society developed. Professor Trevor Cox Wednesday 13th November 2019, 7.00 pm - MCC Now You’re Talking Your voice is integral to your personal identity. We judge others not just by their words, but also by the way they talk: their intonation, their pitch, their accent. Mixing scientific analysis with musical interludes, Trevor Cox will explore the workings of the voice and how it adapts to different styles, drawing on his latest popular science book, ‘Now You’re Talking’. Cover Image All written material, unless otherwise stated, The Manchester ‘Lit & Phil’ was founded in 1781 by two medical doctors, Thomas Percival and Charles White, and Nature Printed British Seaweeds: is the copyright of The Portico Library. continues to this day as a focus for 30 fascinating lectures and discussions annually from distinguished experts on a A History, William Grosart Johnstone wide variety of topics. Events are held in convenient locations in and near the centre of Manchester and will appeal to and Alexander Croall, 1859. Designed by Birthday people of all ages who have an enquiring mind! Please visit our website for further information on becoming a member. Printed by Jump North Above An Attack of Owls in the Choir of the If you would like to place an advertisement Church at Sarayacu, Travels in South in our next edition, please contact www.manlitphil.ac.uk America, Paul Marcoy, 1875. [email protected] 5th Floor, Church House, 90 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2GP 0161 833 4187 3 NOTE FROM THE LIBRARIAN LIBRARY NEWS ‘With the disappearance of the forest,’ Fung looks at the Library’s beautiful The Society of Skyliner, an online magazine focusing scholar George Perkins Marsh wrote in collection of travel writing on 19th-century Readers and Writers on lesser-seen parts of cities; Emily his classic text Man and Nature, ‘all is China. While Steve Smith reviews the Graham, winner, of the 2017 Portico changed […] the climate becomes newest edition to the Anthony Burgess For the first time, The Portico Library is Sadie Massie Awards and prospective excessive and the soil is alternatively Irwell Works, ABBA ABBA, on page 11. introducing The Society of Readers and BA student at The University of parched by the fervors of summer and Burgess won the Portico Prize in 1989 for Writers, an appointed group of fifteen Manchester; Elmi Ali, performance seared by the vigors of winter.’ Written Any Old Iron and we will be joining forces literary enthusiasts who will collectively poet, director and facilitator; Mo Ray, in 1864, Marsh’s prophetic judgements with The International Anthony Burgess draw up a longlist for The Portico Prize arts reviewer and writer at Within my seem more relevant than ever and serve Foundation to celebrate the release of the 2019, awarded ‘to the book that best Locket, a blog about storytelling across as a timely reminder of the enduring Portico Prize Longlist on 22nd October. evokes the spirit of the North of England’. different mediums; Emma Marigliano, struggle between humanity’s demands Compiled by the newly formed Society Submissions to the Prize will be divided Chairwoman of the Independent Libraries and the natural environment. This theme of Readers and Writers (see page 5) the between the Society, who will each Association and former Librarian of The is explored in more depth in our upcoming event will bring together the best books receive honourary membership to The Portico Library; Robert Nieri, solicitor Winter programme, which begins 4th written about the North of England for an Portico Library between July 2019 and and author of debut novel The Lord of October with the Library’s Second Nature evening of sharp conversation and debate. December 2020. Milan; Stella Halkyard, former Joint exhibition (see page 7). Sponsored by the If you enjoy reading northern literature, The Society members are Rachael Head of Special Collections at the John Zochonis Charitable Trust, the programme like the idea of learning more about Allen, poet and poetry editor for Granta Rylands Library and an Honorary Fellow also includes several events where ideas 19th-century travel through China or early magazine and Granta books; David of the University of Manchester Library; about nature and our troubling detachment environmental ideas, then why not join Coates, Sales and Events manager at Lucy Burns, editorial assistant at from it will be explored (see pages 7–9). The Portico as a member or reader? Here Blackwell’s Bookshop in Manchester; Manchester University Press and The environmental theme extends to you can find Burgess next to the likes of Kamal Kaan, actor and award winning co-organiser of experimental writing the launch of our Endangered Books Alexander von Humboldt and many more screenwriter whose work includes event series Murmur; and Simon Nichol, Fund (see Kirsten Drew’s volunteer story literary treasures. Breaking up with Bradford (BBC Radio 4); retired English teacher and criminal lawyer. on page 15). The Fund gives you the Finally, tickets for our renowned Qaisra Shahraz, novelist, scriptwriter and The Portico Prize Longlist will be opportunity to support the restoration Christmas Feast are now available. founder of MACFEST, Muslim Arts and announced on the 30th September of some of the Library’s most precious Make sure you book quickly as space Culture Festival; Louisa Yates, writer, 2019. Turn to page 8 for details of our and rare books so that they can be used is limited. academic and Festival Director of upcoming Portico Prize Longlist Event. for future generations. Gladfest; Arthur Bostrom, TV and theatre Our Winter Quarterly also features Dr. Thom Keep actor and radio broadcaster; Hayley Sarah Hill two fascinating articles from Portico Librarian Flynn, writer and tour guide who runs Portico Prize administrator members. On pages 12 and 13, Walter Right Paradisea rubra, male, The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, Charles Darwin, Right 1871. Clockwise from top left: Elmi Ali, Rachael Allen, Hayley Flynn, Kamal Kaan. 4 | The Portico Library | Oct—Dec, 2019 5 LIBRARY NEWS EXHIBITION Resilient Heritage Project update dedicated Library staff. The project was challenging and Second Nature: what Our Resilient Heritage Project has now absorbing (collating all the necessary does ‘nature’ mean been completed, marking the end of an property documents from over two exciting journey and the beginning of hundred years’ worth of material took anyway? another. There has already been a time and perseverance). It was, as a 4 October, 2019–6 January, 2020 transformative effect on the Library, colleague at the National Lottery Heritage enabling us to create a new governance Fund observed, a project with many parts Free public preview: structure; identify what needs to be and keeping them all on track was an 3 October, 6–8pm done to make the building fully accessible; exciting process. It was fascinating work, develop a condition survey and cost up especially the opportunity to collaborate Recent studies show that two thirds of repairs and improvements; build a long with our consultant team who have now UK adults feel they have ‘lost touch with -term, sustainable business plan and a produced an integrated set of reports to nature’ and our vocabulary to describe it long-term fundraising plan; develop the help guide our future. is diminishing. How might new ideas and skills of our staff; and cultivate new At its conclusion we are, as a Library, definitions of nature affect our priorities, partnerships across Manchester and in a quite different place from a year ago: and can reconnecting with the living beyond.