From Manchester with Love cover art

From Manchester with Love

The Life and Opinions of Tony Wilson

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From Manchester with Love

By: Paul Morley
Narrated by: Paul Morley
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About this listen

THE TIMES & UNCUT MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR

Critically-acclaimed and bestselling author Paul Morley's long-awaited biography of Factory Records co-founder and Manchester icon Tony Wilson.

A BOOK OF THE YEAR SUNDAY TIMES, NEW STATESMAN, MOJO, LOUDER THAN WAR

'Compelling . . . befitting its extraordinary subject.'
BRIAN ENO

'Bracing and often surprisingly tender . . . the perfect monument.'
SUNDAY TIMES

'Via Morley's magical prose Tony Wilson comes back to life . . . inspiring.'
RICHARD RUSSELL

Tony Wilson was a man who became synonymous with his beloved city. As the co-founder of the legendary Factory Records and the Haçienda, he appointed himself a custodian of Manchester's legacy of innovation and change, becoming a cultural pioneer for the North. To Paul Morley, he was this and much more: bullshitting hustler, flashy showman, inventive broadcaster, self-deprecating chancer, publicity seeker, loyal friend. It was Morley to whom Wilson left a daunting final request: to write this book.

From Manchester with Love is the biography of a man who changed the world around him through sheer force of personality. In the cultural theatre of Manchester, Tony Wilson broke in and took centre stage.

'An immersive experience . . . very moving indeed.'
MIRANDA SAWYER, OBSERVER

'Not just a "biog" but the story of a city's history and culture and a unique and disappearing figure.'
STUART MACONIE, NEW STATESMAN

'Morley's biography is as illuminating on Wilson's strange ability to hold others in his orbit, even after his death, as it is on the story of his life.'
THE SPECTATOR

'The man/myth Wilson died aged 57 in 2006, but here he burns on fantastically bright.'
UNCUT

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Paul Morley (P)2021 Faber & Faber
Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Funny

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Critic reviews

"Reading From Manchester With Love I feel I understand the times we've lived through differently, better and from new angles. The writing is compelling and musical, befitting its extraordinary subject. I never met Tony Wilson, but now I feel as though I knew him well - and I'm sorry that I didn't." (Brian Eno)

All stars
Most relevant
Tony Wilson lives through this book, the highs, the lows the good and the bad. It will bring you to tears, but it will have been worth it.

An absolute masterpiece!

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…that I was able to listen to all 20+ hours of this excellent audiobook for the measly price of a monthly Audible subscription. Someone tell Paul Morley he’s been robbed!

A travesty..,

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The author has written a superb biography of Tony Wilson, and by extension, the story of 20th Century Manchester as well. Very well researched and performed. A real joy to listen to. Thanks.

Great biography

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I was never a fan of the pretentious writings of the NME, and hence Morley, but I've always been intrigued by the contradictory personalities of Tony Wilson so this bio presented a bit of a dilemma. Initially I didn't buy it, but later decided to give it a go. I'm glad I did.

I think what Morley needs is an editor to remove some of his flights of fancy and to cut down some of the irritating streams of adjectives. Then he'd have a five star book rather than a four.

But the important thing here is that I felt I finally got to understand Tony Wilson because the way Morley put it all across on the whole was excellent. Aside from just a couple of chapters that I skipped, because they went off on obscure tangents, I enjoyed this book very much. I might even be tempted to buy another Morley book now. Yikes.

Way better than I expected

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A moving literary monument, captures Wilson, Manchester, life, art, philosophy, death, music and humanity with great skill.

A fantastic book

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