A new exhibition charting the early years of Anthony Burgess is to open at Manchester Central Library in June.
The A Clockwork Orange author was born in Manchester in 1917, the son of a pianist and a pub landlady, and has often expressed great pride his Mancunian roots.
He even claimed to have introduced the word ‘Mancuniense’ to the Italian language.
Burgess repeatedly referenced the city in his literary work, and now, following extensive research, a visual exploration of the Manchester of his youth is scheduled to open to the public.
Anna Edwards, archivist at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, said: “Anthony Burgess is one of Manchester’s most prolific and diverse writers, yet his Manchester roots often go unnoticed.
“We’re thrilled to be using two such unique archive collections to offer visitors an insight into his formative years and their enduring influence on his literature and music.”
The exhibition follows Burgess’s childhood, educational and recreational experiences growing up in the city, featuring rare photographs of the city from the 1920s through to the 1940s, alongside modern day images of the city.
Visitors can embark on a journey through his Catholic schooling in Moss Side and Victoria Park to his time at the University of Manchester and regular visits the Central Library, the Free Trade Hall and the Church of the Holy Name.
This is a unique opportunity to see Manchester through the youthful eyes of one of the greatest literary minds of the 20th Century.
The event, entitled Manchester Made Me: Anthony Burgess and Manchester will run from 6pm on Thursday June 11 through to Monday July 20 in the Henry Watson Music Library and Reading Room at Manchester Central Library.
Image courtesy of Channel 4 via YouTube, with thanks.
