Early Modern Cultures of Reading in North West England

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The project uncovers the largely overlooked history of reading in the early modern North West. It offers a timely corrective to the almost exclusive focus on London and the South East in academic scholarship on sixteenth- and seventeenth-century English literary culture. By combining the expertise of the academic supervisors and student with that of the library staff at Chetham's, the project will deepen our knowledge and understanding of one of the most important cultural heritage collections in the North West of England, in particular its relevance to the history of the region. In addition to an academic thesis, the project will include five outputs aimed at general audiences: an exhibit, a workshop, a public talk at Chetham's, three blog entries, and a YouTube video. By appealing to the interest in the connections of the collections with the history of the local area, the project will help the library to attract new audiences, especially from the North West, but also those from further afield with an interest in the distinctive history of this region.The wider aim of the project is to contribute to the ongoing revitalisation of the literary culture of the area in the present and future by raising awareness of its past, contributing to the agenda of Manchester as a UNESCO City of Literature to 'recognise past, present and future: a strong cultural heritage, a vibrant and diverse contemporary cultural scene, and aspirations to extend culture to the next generation'