From Manchester with Love: The Life and Opinions of Tony Wilson

With this exhaustive biography, cultural critic Morley explores the life of the man dubbed “Mr. Manchester,” record label owner, nightclub manager, radio and TV presenter, and journalist Tony Wilson. Multifaceted Wilson’s day job as a television personality supported his true love: building up the city of Manchester, UK. In the late 1970s, Wilson and a few friends created the Haçienda and Factory Records, producing the bands Joy Division, New Order, and Happy Mondays. Morley doesn’t paint Wilson with rose-colored glasses; instead, he explores his complexities: his energy and charisma, along with his quick anger and the ways he held a grudge. Morley’s work is also a love letter to Manchester; he highlights the ways in which Wilson’s adoration for the city connected to its long history as a cultural hub. Morley’s narrative is as expansive as Wilson’s life.