Happy birthday François Truffaut

Competition time

Today would have been François Truffaut 80th birthday. Truffaut (6 February 1932 - 21 October 1984) was an influential, filmmaker, critic and one of the founders of the French New Wave. He was also a screenwriter, producer, and actor, who worked on over twenty-five films.

To celebrate, we’re offering blog readers the opportunity to win a copy of François Truffaut, by Diana Holmes and Robert Ingram. This was the first title to be published in the renowned French Film Director series, and is a concise, accessible and original reading of Truffaut's films.

‘A clear, well documented, and captivating study of this important cineaste.’
Keri Berg, French Review


To enter the competition, simply email your answer to this question,

Which Truffant film is often credited with beginning the French New Wave movement?

The competition closes at 5pm on 9th February. Good luck everyone!

My time as a work experience intern at MUP

By Jamie Bytheway

I had several brief encounters with the MUP team prior to my work experience (at the Manchester Book Market) and therefore sort of knew what to expect; lots of books, a chance to learn new skills and maybe even a pint.

On my first day I was in the editorial department with Sarah Hunt and Tony Mason. First off, Tony made me a brew and then gave me more of an insight into what the press actually did and how they operate, with a quick tour round the office and all its Hogwartseque nooks and crannys. The press is much bigger than I realised and has a much higher output than I expected of is eighteen staff.

My work in the editorial department mainly consisted of researching reviewers for proposals. I found this extremely interesting as I got to look over about twenty book proposals from topics as wide ranging as Terrorism to Italian-American boxing to Renaissance art, and felt like I was gaining a sense of how books are conceived. I also got to look over completed manuscripts which were ready to handover to production to check nothing fundamental was missing at this stage. I would have really liked the chance to go to an editorial meeting, but unfortunately there wasn’t one scheduled during my time at MUP.

My day in production was probably the most challenging, yet valuable day of my work experience. In the morning I looked over a revise and compared it to the original in order to check for any mistakes and to check all the changes suggested had been incorporated by the copy-editor. In the afternoon I looked over a final proof, which was much more difficult as it was much more refined than the revise, luckily (for me) I still found a couple of mistakes! Production is a very challenging environment as it requires complete concentration, and when working on an interesting title there is the temptation to just read the words rather than to check them. However, it was also a very valuable experience as I learnt about the international proofing marks, the secret code of proof-readers!

My final day was spent upstairs in the marketing department. I spent the beginning of the morning compiling mail-outs for new authors to inform them of the marketing process. The morning finished with a meeting regarding the new website. I found this useful as it was my first experience of an official meeting in a work environment, and valuable experience for my current full-time job in marketing. Lunch consisted of a quick sandwich and a pint at the local pub, which proved a great chance to ask more in-depth questions, especially to staff I had not worked with directly. In the afternoon I helped consolidate a database of images for the new website. My day in marketing was enjoyable as I found the work was very varied.

I really enjoyed my time at MUP as it offered valuable, real work experience, and gave me the opportunity to develop essential industry skills. This kind of work experience is difficult to get within the publishing sector, and therefore I would like to take this opportunity to again thank the staff of MUP for letting me come and work alongside them.

Snails, skins and the 'weird world' of old Welsh medicine

Skin of dead puppies, oils made of swallows and juice of snails may not be what the doctor ordered for modern day illnesses.

But a Swansea University historian has discovered they were just some of the weird and unbelievable remedies that were commonly used for ailments in Wales in the 17th and 18th Centuries.

Alun Withey, the author of Manchester University Press's Physick and the Family, explains to BBC Wales that rather than the big disease epidemics of the time, some of the worst illnesses faced in Wales were those which have become easily treatable today.

"A lot of people suffered from the common cold, which could kill you back then, and stomach upsets - things that now we could treat with antibiotics," said Dr Withey, who has compiled his research in a new book, Physick and the Family.

For the full BBC article, fllow this link.

Call for papers

Ethnographic Horizons in Times of Turbulence

The 7th Annual Joint University of Liverpool Management School and Keele University Institute for Public Policy and Management Symposium on Current Developments in Ethnographic Research in the Social and Management Sciences.
In association with the Journal of Organizational Ethnography and the Journal Ethnography
Ethnographic Horizons in Times of Turbulence.

University of Liverpool Management School, Liverpool, UK
29th – 31st August 2012

Conference Chairs
Dr. Manuela Nocker, University of Essex Business School(Email mnocker@essex.ac.uk)
Dr. Geoff Pearson, University of Liverpool Management School(Email: pearsong@liv.ac.uk)

Organising Committee
Dr. Matthew Brannan, Keele University Institute for Public Policy and ManagementDr. Jason Ferdinand, University of Liverpool Management SchoolDr. Manuela Nocker, University of Essex Business SchoolDr. Geoff Pearson, University of Liverpool Management SchoolDr. Mike Rowe, University of Liverpool Management SchoolDr. Frank Worthington, University of Liverpool Management School

Key Note Speakers
Dr Simon Down, Newcastle University Business School, UK
Professor Karen Ho, Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota
Professor Gideon Kunda, Department of Labour Studies, Tel Aviv University, Israel
Professor John Weeks, IMD Business School, Lausanne, CH

Call for papers

Author to contribute to new BBC series

Martin Johnes, author of Wales since 1939 will be a contributor to the exciting new BBC series, The Story of Wales, which hits screens from the 27th February.

Shoppers brush up on grammar

From handwriting analysis to grammar lessons, it's all going on at Selfridges London, who launched their Words Words Words initiative last week.

From 12th January to the 1st March, Selfridges London will transform the UltraLounge on their Lower Ground floor into a library. The new 'interactive space' will become the epicentre of the Words Words Words theme, offering shoppers the opportunity to learn calligraphy, analyse their own handwriting, and listen to storytellers, amongst many other activities.

A full list of events can be found on the Selfridges website.

If you are interested in attending this event, please email Isabelle Merillet before the 20th January.

Devolution in the UK

NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK

The hardback edition of Devolution in the UK sold extremely well when it was published in early 2009. It received high praise from many academics and students from the field of politics,

'An important and necessary book on a vital topic. James Mitchell's expertise and original research produce an authoritative analysis, and one which questions assumed inevitabilities in the UK's past, present and future.'
Richard English, Professor of Politics, Queen's University, Belfast

The paperback edition has just landed on our desk, making the title more affordable for the average student (RRP £15.99).

Use the link to Amazon (top right) to order your copy today!

Launch overview

MUP and the editors of The Hidden Alternative celebrated the start of the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives last week by launching the book at two simulations events in London and Manchester.

London A large audience joined Stephen Yeo and many of the book’s contributors in Waterstones Gower Street, to discuss the future of the Co-operative.

Manchester The Eighth Day provided a perfect venue for the Manchester launch. Robin Murray captivated guests with his lively discussion of his favourite chapters in The Hidden Alternative. Guests had the opportunity to meet the contributors and discuss future ventures to celebrate the International Year of Co-operatives.

2012 International Year of Co-operatives

The United Nations has designed 2012 the International Year of Co-operatives. Over 1.4 million co-operatives from across the globe will be coming together to promote effective and sustainable ways of doing business.

Co-operatives across the world will celebrate the start of the International Year of Co-operatives on January 12th. Co-operatives UK will be kicking off the year with many different events, including an online panel with The Guardian, with key figures from the co-operative sector.

Manchester University Press are planning their own celebrations to mark the publication of The Hidden Alternative. Two simultaneous launches will take place on the 12th January. An event at Waterstone's Gower Street in London, will be opened by the eminent co-operative scholar Professor Stephen Yeo. Economist and co-operative expert Robin Murray will open the event in Manchester.

The Hidden Alternative demonstrate that co-operation offers a real and much needed alternative for the organisation of human economic and social affairs, one that should establish its place at the forefront of public and academic discussion and policy making.

The book includes chapters on education, fair trade, politics and governance, planning and sustainability and on how co-operatives have coped with the global economic crisis.
If you would like to attend one of the launch events, please contact rebecca@co-op.ac.uk to confirm places are still available on the guest list.