Product Description

 This authoritative and thought-provoking history takes a fresh view of what was a period of unprecedented and rapid change. Assuming no prior knowledge of the subject, Hugh Cunningham provides a clear narrative of political events, and an analysis of change and continuity in ideas and in economic and social structure. Britain is set firmly in the context of world power and the possession of empire. An overarching theme is the challenge presented by democracy in a period framed by the First and Fourth Reform Acts. ‘Democracy’ had no stable meaning, and its opponents were just as vocal as its advocates. The book explores its implications for the role of the state, for the governance of empire, and for the relationship between the different nations within the United Kingdom.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #345785 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

From the Back Cover
The Challenge of Democracy- Britain 1832-1918
Britain's nineteenth century was a period of unprecedented and rapid change- the modernisation of a world power. `The Challenge of Democracy' is the freshest and most authoritative history of this time.
Britain is set firmly in the context of world power and the possession of empire. The overarching theme is the challenge presented by democracy in a period framed by the First and the Fourth Reform Acts. ` Democracy' itself had no stable meaning. Contrary to popular memory, its opponents were quite as vocal as its advocates. The book explores its implications for the role of the state, for the governance of the world's largest Empire, and for the relationship between the different nations within the United Kingdom. `The Challenge of Democracy' is unique in presenting a true history of Britain, not just England plus. Democracy, too, had its impact on the diverse identities which the British forged for themselves in an increasingly city based society where established gender and age relationships were under challenge.
The book will interest those coming new to this field as it assumes no prior knowledge. Covering society and economics as well as politics, this thought-provoking and clear work will prove the definitive history of the period.
Hugh Cunningham is Professor of Social History, University of Kent. He is the author of many books, including the best selling, `Children and Childhood in Western Society since 1500' (1995).

About the Author

Hugh Cunningham is Professor of Social History, University of Kent. He is the author of several books, including the highly-regardedChildren and Childhood in Western Society since 1500 (Longman, 1995).

Customer Reviews

A Birds Eye View of British Democracy (1832-1918)
Hugh Cunninghams "The Challenge of Democracy" doesnt quite live up to the billing of its title. I thought it would purely concentrate on the handfull of Parliamentary Acts between 1832 and 1918 and the forces from above and below that turned Britain into a Democracy (well at any rate for all males over 21 and females over 30). Instead the reader will find a crisply written general history of Britain covering the period from the Great Reform Act of 1832 to the end of World War 1 which has a particular emphasis on Democractic developments but also covers a wide range of other matters from Empire to Industrialisation, Economic policies, the divide between Town and Country, Ireland, issues of Gender and Class which help to put the development of Democracy into context.

If you are not familiar with the period and are interested in Democratic developments then this book is as good a place to start as any I can think of. Otherwise you will probably not learn a hell of a lot more, the analysis is neither deep or profound but at least puts the issues on the table and provides a good further reading section for those who are interested in a detailed look into anything covered within. In short - if you dont know the era then this is a 5-star book, if you do then you might find you are already familiar with much of the material though I did still find it an interesting refresher on the period covered.