I'm not sure if I would recommend it particularly, but the above author's "Bygones worth remembering" vols 1 ( https://www.gutenberg.org/files/36795/36795-h/36795-h.htm ) & 2 ( https://www.gutenberg.org/files/36796/36796-h/36796-h.htm ) have just been put on the Gutenburg website for download. the books are a mixture of reminiscences. including some of birmingham people. Holyoake was born in Birmingham and lectured at the Birmingham Mechanics institute. He was a secularist, and a co-operator (supporter of coops) and was the last person in the UK to be convicted of blasphemy in a public place in 1842
Mike
Mike