By Jacqueline Grima
Last week, Manchester Metropolitan University’s Department of History, Politics and Philosophy held a departmental inaugural book launch. The event, held in the newly-refurbished No. 70 building on Oxford Road, was designed to celebrate the books published by members of the department in the last twelve months.
The evening was organised by MMU Lecturer in History, Dr Jason Roche. Jason introduced Professor in History, Melanie Tebbut who opened the event. In her speech, Melanie praised the publication success of the department, referring to the vast range of expertise and interests with which the department’s staff are currently engaged.
Dr Jason Roche addresses the audience.
Following Melanie’s speech, staff from the department spoke about their work. The evening’s speakers included Senior Lecturer in History, Dr Sam Edwards, whose numerous publications have included Allies in Memory: World War II and the Politics of Transatlantic Commemoration, c.1941-2001 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2015) and Senior Lecturer in Medieval History, Dr Kathryn Hurlock, whose publications include Britain, Ireland and the Crusades, c.1000-1300 (Palgrave, Basingstoke, 2013).
Also present to discuss their work were History Lecturer, Dr Ben Edwards, Senior Lecturers in History, Dr Faye Sayer and Dr Jonathan Spangler, Dr Jason Roche and Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Dr Lloyd Strickland, who talked about his work in early modern philosophy.
Other topics discussed at the event included such diverse subjects as the commemoration of World War II, medieval Christian Holy War and Pilgrimage, the practice of public history and open-access archaeology. Also touched upon were the Guise family in early modern Europe, one of whom, Mary of Guise, was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots.
After the talk, guests were treated to a wine reception to celebrate the department’s work. During the celebrations, Jason Roche told Humanity Hallows how pleased he was at the success of the evening:
“The evening has been a great success. The scholarship on display and the informality of the event epitomise the academic strengths and collegiality of the department.”
For more information about the various publications discussed at the event and current staff projects, please see the History, Politics and Philosophy Department’s staff profile page.
Featured image and gallery: Hoang Phan Notebooks were carried from one workshop to another. Writers from different generations sat around tables, sharing manuscripts and listening to each other. Outdoors, small groups strolled along Oxford Road, pausing before buildings steeped in literary history. This was the scene during the Manchester Writing School Summer Festival 2026, held…
Featured image: Katja Ogrin With many sore heads and limbs this morning after the most hardcore day of the festival taking place yesterday, many are recovering from the moshing and pit brutality of the previous day’s antics. As the tradition of a morning movie in the Serpents Lair prevails, the crowd sprawls out onto the plush,…
Featured image: Abbi Draper After an electrifying start to the weekend, with temperatures slowly climbing, many lather themselves in suncream, shed their band shirts and rise from their tents to trek towards the arena. Saturday has big things incoming for the humans of Bloodstock 2026. Some pace themselves for the day and hide from the early…
Featured image: Abbi Draper After a memorable Thursday opener, Bloodstock 2026 opens its gates once again onto the Hallowed Grounds of Catton Park, kicking off day two of its 25th-anniversary celebration of metal. As the sun rises on Catton Park, festivalgoers emerge from their tents to prepare for another day of mayhem. The morning brings…
Leave a reply