In The Making of Sheffield, Melvyn Jones has crafted a fascinating book about the city’s history, packing into 170 pages of easily read but comprehensive text both well-known and obscure elements, which should tempt anyone to delve even deeper into the town’s past.

The book is generously illustrated, always to the point, and there are several pages of references, which displays a willingness on the part of the publishers to include such detail in a book that manages to attract both the casual and academic reader. Melvyn Jones has published and edited several books beforehand and this edition aptly displays his mastery of the subject. Although I must admit personal interest, having been born in the city, and with family still scattered across the seven hills, I would highly recommend this book as an example to anyone contemplating writing a similar work on their own locality.

Family & Community Historical Research Society