On Peterloo: The Story of the Manchester Massacre

‘Gripping … quite simply magnificent: splendidly researched, thoroughly well written, and very difficult to put down.’ John Barrell The Guardian

‘A superb account of one of the defining moments in modern British history.’ Tristram Hunt.

‘Peterloo is one of the greatest scandals of British political history … Jacqueline Riding tells this tragic story with mesmerising skill.’ Professor John Bew, author of Citizen Clem.

‘Fast-paced and full of fascinating detail.’ Tim Clayton, author of Waterloo.

‘This is the best single account of the massacre of August 1819. A brilliant piece of historical research that sets the event in the wider political and social context and which brings to life the tragic events of August 16. This is the book to turn to for anyone interested in learning what happened in Manchester on that day and why Peterloo continues to resonate today.’ Michael Powell, Chetham’s Library

‘Vivid, engrossing and well-research’, ‘an evocative account’, ‘gripping and intellectually robust’, ‘[Mike Leigh’s] film and Riding’s excellent accompanying book will rightly heighten public awareness of the events of 16 August 1819’. Professor Ted Vallance, BBC History Magazine

‘Jacqueline Riding lets the evidence speak for itself, and in doing so produces a cool and even-handed indictment of the authorities and the soldiers at St Peter’s Field that is far more devastating than any emotional rant,’ ‘cleverly structured’, ‘the sequence of events that Riding lays out in forensic details is shocking’, ‘The Peterloo story … is one that deserves to be remembered as a less than glorious chapter in our island history. No one has told it better.’ Saul David, Literary Review

‘Careful, closely researched … a fascinating and moving story … [Riding] does a fine job of putting the event into context.’ Dominic Sandbrook, The Sunday Times