ABSTRACT

In this, the second edition of A Social History of England, Francois Bédarida has added a new final chapter on the last fifteen years.

The book now traces the evolution of English society from the height of the British Empire to the dawn of the single European market. Making full use of the Annales school of French historiography, Bédarida takes his inquiry beyond conventional views to penetrate the attitudes, behaviour and psychology of the British people.

part 1|95 pages

The Power and the Glory: 1851–80

chapter 1|33 pages

Industrialism triumphant

chapter 2|37 pages

The merits of hierarchy

chapter 3|23 pages

Power and consensus

part 2|68 pages

The Old World Resists: 1880–1914

chapter 4|26 pages

The crisis of Victorian values

chapter 5|19 pages

From oligarchy to democracy?

chapter 6|21 pages

The splendour and squalor of a golden age

part 3|81 pages

Through Storms and Ceises to Recovery: 1914–55

chapter 7|33 pages

The search for security and stability

chapter 8|26 pages

The immutable class system

chapter 9|20 pages

The slowly changing social landscape

part 4|43 pages

The End of the Old England? 1955–75

chapter |4 pages

A disrupted society

chapter 10|21 pages

The fruits of affluence

chapter 11|16 pages

Decadence or wisdom?

chapter |6 pages

Conclusion

chapter |31 pages

Postscript 1975–90

A blurred society

chapter |17 pages

Chronological table