Sketches from Manx History

Sketches from Manx History

Thu, 09 Jan 2020

Sketches from Manx History is a fascinating history of the Isle of Man first published in 1915.

It is written by Christopher Shimmin, an MHK from 1919 until his death in 1933, who was one of the most important figures in Manx labour history. He was a founding member of the Manx Labour Party and was at the centre of the 1918 General Strike, amongst much other groundbreaking work for the working class of the Isle of Man.

In addition to this, Shimmin established himself as "the Manx playwright," writing some of the Isle of Man's most important plays, particularly those in Manx dialect.

These concerns come out in Sketches from Manx History, a book which offers both a well-researched overview of the Island's history and also a fascinating insight into the concerns and political interests of one of the most important figures in Manx political history at this era.

It is made available here in PDF form thanks to Stephen Miller of Chiollagh Books, whose assistance in making Manx cultural history accessible is unparallelled.

The re-publication of this book online is made on the 86th anniversary of Christopher Shimmin's death, on 9 January 1933.

The book can be accessed and downloaded here:

Sketches from Manx History