About
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)
‘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)
‘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)
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:
- 2015 – London – Highgate NADFAS on WW1 Memorials
- 2015 – Manchester – John Rylands Library Workshop on Lawrence of Arabia
- 2015 – Chester – Society of Thirteen on Captain Scott
- 2014 – Lancaster – Lancaster Maritime Museum on Polar Explorers
- 2014 – Dunham Massey – National Trust Dunham Massey on WW1 Heroes
- 2014 – Manchester – Manchester Histories Festival on Manchester Heroes
- 2013 – Isles of Scilly – ‘Scott 100’ closing event
- 2012 – London – Churchill War Rooms on Winston Churchill
- 2012 – Manchester – Manchester Histories Festival on Scott and Manchester
- 2012 – Manchester – Herbertson Memorial Lecture, Geographical Association on Exploration
- 2012 – Cambridge – ‘Pole Day’, Scott Polar Research Institute
- 2011 – Milan, Italy – ‘Robert Falcon Scott and the Antarctic’ Conference, University of Milan
- 2011 – Brecon, Darlington, Keswick, Kings Lynn, Southampton, Stamford – Royal Geographical Society Regional Tour
- 2010 – London – Royal Geographical Society Monday-Night Lecture on Captain Scott
- 2010 – Hobart, Tasmania – ‘Antarctic Visions’ Conference
- 2010 – San Marino, USA – ‘Empires of Science’ conference, Huntington Library on Nansen and Exploration
- 2010 – London – British Library on Captain Scott
- Workshop on Lawrence of Arabia, 2015
- Workshop on Lawrence of Arabia, 2015
Audience Response, Highgate NADFAS, 2015:
- ‘If only I had been taught history at school with such enthusiasm and passion I would have enjoyed it and become more interested!’
Audience Responses, Society of Thirteen, Chester, 2015:
- ‘One of the best we have had. He really knew his stuff!’
- ‘Great communicator, likeable and engaging’
- ‘Can you invite him back please?’
Rachel Roberts, Lancaster Maritime Museum, 2014:
- ‘Dr Max Jones gave an excellent afternoon talk on explorer heroes at the museum in August 2014. The event sold out and the audience feedback was glowing, praising an informative and entertaining lecture’
Audience Responses, Manchester Histories Festival, 2012:
- ‘Very impressed with Dr. Max Jones. Instantly likeable, very knowledgeable’
- ‘Excellent speaker. Very interesting. Really enjoyed it.’
- ‘Superb lecture, Max was a super lecturer’
[Sources: Anonymous questionnaires and correspondence with event organisers]
Media
TV/Radio Consultancy and Interviews include:
- Alexander Armstrong’s Real Ripping Yarns – BBC 4 (2014)
- ‘Explorers’, Amanda Vickery on Men – BBC Radio 4 (2012)
- Titanic with Len Goodman – BBC 1 (2012)
- The Secrets of Scott’s Hut with Ben Fogle – BBC 2 (2011)
- Blizzard: The Race to the Pole – BBC 1 (2006)
- Going South: Captain Scott in Cardiff – BBC Radio Wales (2004)
…and frequent appearances on local and national radio.
Museum consultancy includes:
- ‘Robert Falcon Scott: A Century On’ – Scott Polar Research Institute Museum, Cambridge (2012-13)
- ‘Scott’s Last Expedition’ – Sydney, Australia; London, England; Christchurch, New Zealand (2011-13)
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
Twitter: @DrMaxJones
Karolina Sutton
Literary Agent
Curtis Brown Group
Haymarket House
28-29 Haymarket
London, SW1 4SP
United Kingdom
+44 (0)20 7393 4428