A Tale of Two Cities is a study of two major cities, Manchester and Sheffield. Drawing on the work of major theorists, the authors explore the everyday life, making contributions to our understanding of the defining activities of life.

The city of the future is to be found not just in the post-modern metropolis but also in the once great industrial cities, from the rust belt of the United States to the centres of the English industrial revolution. This is a study of two such cities - Manchester and Sheffield. Drawing on an international range of theory from Raymond Williams to John Logan and Harvey Molotch to identify and interpret the trajectory of change in the old industrial centre, this text looks at the texture of everyday life: transport, shopping, the experiences of fear, begging and homelessness. Throughout its theoretical and empirical exploration of specific localities, it provides an investigation into the different furtures available to post-Fordist cities throughout the world.