Details

List of Contributors x <p>Introduction xv</p> <p><b>Part I British Political Life</b></p> <p>1 The Conservative Party, 1900–1939: From Crisis to Ascendancy 3<br /> <i>Philip Williamson</i></p> <p>2 The Liberal Party, 1900–1939: Summit and Descent 23<br /> <i>Michael Bentley</i></p> <p>3 The Politics of the Labour Movement, 1900–1939 38<br /> <i>Duncan Tanner</i></p> <p>4 The Politics of National Efficiency and of War, 1900–1918 56<br /> <i>G. R. Searle</i></p> <p>5 Scottish Issues in British Politics, 1900–1939 72<br /> <i>I. G. C. Hutchison</i></p> <p>6 Wales and British Politics, 1900–1939 87<br /> <i>R. Merfyn Jones</i></p> <p>7 Ireland and British Politics, 1900–1939 102<br /> <i>D. George Boyce</i></p> <p>8 Women and Politics, 1900–1939 118<br /> <i>Christine Collette</i></p> <p><b>Part II Britain and the World</b></p> <p>9 Immigrants, Sojourners and Refugees: Minority Groups in Britain, 1900–1939 137<br /> <i>Anne J. Kershen</i></p> <p>10 British Foreign Policy, 1900–1939 152<br /> <i>G. H. Bennett</i></p> <p>11 The British Armed Forces, 1900–1939 167<br /> <i>David French</i></p> <p>12 The Empire, 1900–1939 182<br /> <i>Martin Kitchen</i></p> <p>13 The British Economy and the Empire, 1900–1939 198<br /> <i>B. R. Tomlinson</i></p> <p>14 Britain in the International Economy, 1900–1939 212<br /> <i>Tim Rooth</i></p> <p>15 The State and the Economy, 1900–1939 229<br /> <i>M. W. Kirby</i></p> <p><b>Part III Social and Economic Developments</b></p> <p>16 The City of London and British Banking, 1900–1939 249<br /> <i>R. C. Michie</i></p> <p>17 Agriculture, Agrarian Society and the Countryside 270<br /> <i>Peter Dewey</i></p> <p>18 Transport, 1900–1939 286<br /> <i>Colin Divall</i></p> <p>19 Industry and Services: Employment and Unemployment 302<br /> <i>K. D. Brown</i></p> <p>20 Industrial Relations in Britain, 1900–1939 319<br /> <i>Arthur J. McIvor</i></p> <p>21 Social Structure, 1900–1939 337<br /> <i>Andrew Miles</i></p> <p>22 Consumption and Consumer Behaviour 353<br /> <i>Sue Bowden</i></p> <p>23 Social Welfare: Public and Private, 1900–1939 373<br /> <i>Keith Laybourn</i></p> <p>24 Housing and Town Planning, 1900–1939 388<br /> <i>Helen Meller</i></p> <p>25 Medicine and Public Health, 1900–1939 405<br /> <i>Steven Cherry</i></p> <p>26 Education, 1900–1939 424<br /> <i>Roy Lowe</i></p> <p>27 Crime, Police and Penal Policy 438<br /> <i>Clive Emsley</i></p> <p>28 Leisure and Sport in Britain, 1900–1939 453<br /> <i>Peter J. Beck</i></p> <p>29 Religion, 1900–1939 470<br /> <i>Stuart Mews</i></p> <p>30 Culture in the Sceptr'd Isle 485<br /> <i>Anthony Sutcliffe</i></p> <p>31 The Impact of the First World War 502<br /> <i>Chris Wrigley</i></p> <p>32 Britishness 517<br /> <i>John K. Walton</i></p> <p>Bibliography of Secondary Sources 532</p> <p>Index 568</p>

"The essays are readable and accessible, and ... provide an introduction to early twentieth-century Britain for students who will benefit from the 35-page bibliography of secondary sources." <i>Economic History Review</i><br /> <p>"Wrigley's volume offers thirty-two essays on various aspects of British history between 1900 and 1939. Both the cast of contributors, and the variety of topics they cover, are impressive ... This is an excellent volume, comprising strong essays ably held together by the editor. It will be of considerable value to students and their lecturers." <i>Andrew Thorpe, University of Exeter</i></p>

<b>Chris Wrigley</b> was formerly the Head of the School of History and Art History and is Professor of Modern British History at Nottingham University. He has been President of the Historical Association (1996–9), Vice-President of the Royal Historical Society and Chair of the Society for the Study of Labour History. He was awarded an Honorary Litt.D. by the University of East Anglia in 1998. He was also editor of <i>The Historian</i> from 1993 to 1998. His previous books include <i>David Lloyd George and the British Labour Movement</i> (1976), <i>Arthur Henderson</i> (1990), <i>Lloyd George and</i> <i>the Challenge of Labour</i> (1990) and <i>Lloyd George</i> (1992).

This <i>Companion</i> brings together 32 new essays by leading historians to provide a reassessment of British history in the early twentieth century. The contributors present lucid introductions to literature and debates on major aspects of the political, social, and economic history of Britain in a period that included the First World War, political upheaval and the foundation of the welfare state, economic hardship, women’s suffrage, and dramatic social changes throughout British society. <p>The volume examines the international role of Britain as both a world power and a European power, discussing issues of relative economic decline and the effect of the First World War on Britain’s economic status. The book also addresses controversial issues over the social impact of the First World War, especially on the position of women in work and society. There is also substantial coverage of changes in Wales, Scotland and Ireland as well as in England.</p>

'The essays are readable and accessible, and ... provide an introduction to early twentieth-century Britain for students who will benefit from the 35-page bibliography of secondary sources.' <i>Economic History Review</i><br /> <p>"Wrigley's volume offers thirty-two essays on various aspects of British history between 1900 and 1939. Both the cast of contributors, and the variety of topics they cover, are impressive ... This is an excellent volume, comprising strong essays ably held together by the editor. It will be of considerable value to students and their lecturers." <i>Andrew Thorpe, University of Exeter</i></p>

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