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About

Max Jones is a writer, lecturer and historian. His book The Last Great Quest (Oxford, 2003) and new edition of Captain Scott’s last Journals (Oxford, 2006) established his reputation as a leading expert on Scott of the Antarctic, polar exploration and national heroes. Max has collaborated on a number of projects about Scott, including ‘The Secrets of Scott’s Hut’ BBC TV documentary and the Natural History Museum’s exhibition on ‘Scott’s Last Expedition’. He has been invited to lecture to audiences in Australia, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland and the USA.

He teaches modern history at the University of Manchester and has won a Distinguished Achievement Medal as the University’s Teacher of the Year.

Max’s latest book project, A History of British Heroes, examines how and why ideas about national heroes have changed over the last three hundred years.

Books

A History of British Heroes

Max’s latest book project examines how and why ideas about national heroes have changed over the last three hundred years. For a taster of the themes the book will address, read Max’s article for the BBC History Magazine (August 2010), ‘Whatever Happened to the British Hero?’

The Last Great Quest: Captain Scott’s Antarctic Sacrifice (Oxford UP, 2003)

Oxford University Press

‘Mesmerising and superbly researched’ – Beryl Bainbridge, Spectator

‘Excellent Book – 5 Stars’ – Independent on Sunday

‘A meticulous examination…weaving record, anecdote and example with great skill, with some remarkable conclusions’ – Duncan Spencer, Washington Times

Robert Falcon Scott, Journals: Scott’s Last Expedition (Oxford UP, 2006)

Oxford University Press

‘definitive … It should be the last word for a very long time’ – Peter Speak, Polar Record

‘scrupulously scholarly edition … there is nobody who knows more about the mythologizing of Scott than Jones does’ – David Crane, Spectator

Book Chapters, Journals and Magazine Articles.

University of Manchester Research Profile

Series Editor: ‘Cultural History of Modern War’ (Manchester University Press)

Manchester University Press

Lectures

Public lecturing is Max’s passion. In addition to lecturing at Manchester and other universities, he regularly speaks about his research on heroes and exploration to public audiences throughout the UK and beyond. ‘The audience should leave the theatre feeling that they’ve participated in a unique event, shaped by the interaction between the lecturer and the audience. Never simply read out a prepared script’.

Recent Lecture Highlights:

Audience Response, Highgate NADFAS, 2015:

Audience Responses, Society of Thirteen, Chester, 2015:

Rachel Roberts, Lancaster Maritime Museum, 2014:

Audience Responses, Manchester Histories Festival, 2012:

[Sources: Anonymous questionnaires and correspondence with event organisers]

Media

TV/Radio Consultancy and Interviews include:

…and frequent appearances on local and national radio.

Museum consultancy includes:

Theatre

Max is currently working with writer Justin Butcher on a stage-play about Captain Scott inspired by Max’s book, The Last Great Quest, originally commissioned by the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

Contact

Dr Max Jones

Department of History

School of Arts, Languages & Cultures

University of Manchester

M13 9PL

United Kingdom

max.jones@manchester.ac.uk

Twitter: @DrMaxJones

Karolina Sutton

Literary Agent

Curtis Brown Group

Haymarket House

28-29 Haymarket

London, SW1 4SP

United Kingdom

+44 (0)20 7393 4428

suttonoffice@curtisbrown.co.uk