A Companion To Early Twentieth-Century Britain

This Companion 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 the literature and debates on major aspects of the political, social and economic history of Britain between 1900 and 1939.


* Examines controversial issues over the social impact of the First World War, especially on women

* Provides substantial coverage of changes in Wales, Scotland and Ireland as well as in England

* Includes a substantial bibliography, which will be a valuable guide to secondary sources

* Thirty-two original essays provide a reassessment of the period 1900-1939

* Covers political, social, and economic history

* Examines controversial issues over the social impact of the First World War, especially on women

* Includes substantial coverage of changes in Wales, Scotland and Ireland as well as in England

Chris Wrigley 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 The Historian from 1993 to 1998. His previous books include David Lloyd George and the British Labour Movement (1976), Arthur Henderson (1990), Lloyd George and the Challenge of Labour (1990) and Lloyd George (1992).

List of Contributors x


Introduction xv


Part I British Political Life


1 The Conservative Party, 1900–1939: From Crisis to Ascendancy 3
Philip Williamson


2 The Liberal Party, 1900–1939: Summit and Descent 23
Michael Bentley


3 The Politics of the Labour Movement, 1900–1939 38
Duncan Tanner


4 The Politics of National Efficiency and of War, 1900–1918 56
G. R. Searle


5 Scottish Issues in British Politics, 1900–1939 72
I. G. C. Hutchison


6 Wales and British Politics, 1900–1939 87
R. Merfyn Jones


7 Ireland and British Politics, 1900–1939 102
D. George Boyce


8 Women and Politics, 1900–1939 118
Christine Collette


Part II Britain and the World


9 Immigrants, Sojourners and Refugees: Minority Groups in Britain, 1900–1939 137
Anne J. Kershen


10 British Foreign Policy, 1900–1939 152
G. H. Bennett


11 The British Armed Forces, 1900–1939 167
David French


12 The Empire, 1900–1939 182
Martin Kitchen


13 The British Economy and the Empire, 1900–1939 198
B. R. Tomlinson


14 Britain in the International Economy, 1900–1939 212
Tim Rooth


15 The State and the Economy, 1900–1939 229
M. W. Kirby


Part III Social and Economic Developments


16 The City of London and British Banking, 1900–1939 249
R. C. Michie


17 Agriculture, Agrarian Society and the Countryside 270
Peter Dewey


18 Transport, 1900–1939 286
Colin Divall


19 Industry and Services: Employment and Unemployment 302
K. D. Brown


20 Industrial Relations in Britain, 1900–1939 319
Arthur J. McIvor


21 Social Structure, 1900–1939 337
Andrew Miles


22 Consumption and Consumer Behaviour 353
Sue Bowden


23 Social Welfare: Public and Private, 1900–1939 373
Keith Laybourn


24 Housing and Town Planning, 1900–1939 388
Helen Meller


25 Medicine and Public Health, 1900–1939 405
Steven Cherry


26 Education, 1900–1939 424
Roy Lowe


27 Crime, Police and Penal Policy 438
Clive Emsley


28 Leisure and Sport in Britain, 1900–1939 453
Peter J. Beck


29 Religion, 1900–1939 470
Stuart Mews


30 Culture in the Sceptr'd Isle 485
Anthony Sutcliffe


31 The Impact of the First World War 502
Chris Wrigley


32 Britishness 517
John K. Walton


Bibliography of Secondary Sources 532


Index 568