Topic: Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester (Singh)
Gurbir Member
Posts: 41 From: UK Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-29-2011 08:09 PM
Last summer I discovered that Yuri Gagarin had visited the area of Manchester (UK) where I had grown up. Since then, I have been researching his five-day visit to Britain during July 1961 and have now put that research in a book that will be available next week.
The book is entitled "Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester" and subtitled "A Smile That Changed the World?" More about the book and an option to download one of the chapters from my blog.
Paperback and eBook available from YPD Books from 4th July 2011.
If you are in the UK and going to the Space Conference in Warwick on 4th and 5th July or the British Council event in London on 14th July - see you there.
FFrench Member
Posts: 3161 From: San Diego Registered: Feb 2002
posted 06-30-2011 11:32 AM
I read an earlier draft of this book, and found it a very interesting read. To have Gagarin - the only person to have orbited the Earth at that time - landing in early-1960s Northwest England seems to have had the kind of effect a UFO landing in a town square would have, it was that otherworldly and different from the norm. Gurbir interestingly explores the two very different cultures interacting at the height of the Cold War, and seems to have tracked down pretty much everyone who was there and still around for first-hand interviews. For English readers it's a must, for others it will be fascinating too.
FFrench Member
Posts: 3161 From: San Diego Registered: Feb 2002
posted 01-13-2012 11:49 AM
There is a glowing review of this book in the January issue of the BIS's "Spaceflight" magazine. I would imagine everyone here from the UK would find this an interesting read.
posted 01-13-2012 01:35 PM
Gurbir is billed as one of the guests at our local "Space Day" (see Midland Spaceflight Society updates), so I'm hoping to get a signed copy.