Product Description

In this hugely ambitious history of Britain, Eric Evans surveys every aspect of the period in which the country was transformed into the world’s first industrial power. This was an era of revolutionary change unparalleled in Britain, yet one in which transformation was achieved without political revolution. The unique combination of transition and revolution is a major theme in the book, which ranges across the embryonic empire, the Church, education, health, finance, and rural and urban life. Evans gives particular attention to the Great Reform Act of 1832. The Third Edition includes an entirely new introductory chapter, and is illustrated for the first time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #108977 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 648 pages

Review

'Evans's elegant and fluent treatment is quite superb.' Times Educational Supplement

"as a textbook it is a model of its kind, clearly written and well set out for ease of use" Edward Royle, English Historical Reviewv

From the Back Cover
'Evans's elegant and fluent treatment is quite superb.' Times Educational Supplement In this hugely ambitious and wide-ranging history of Britain, Eric Evans surveys a period in which Britain was transformed into the world's first industrial, while the foundations of the largest empire the world had seen were also being securely laid. This was an era of unprecedented political crisis, economic opportunity and social upheaval unparalleled in Britain, yet one during which transformation was achieved without revolution. The unique and potent combination of transition and transformation is a major theme in this book.   The book ranges ranges across key political, diplomatic, social, cultural, economic and religious themes in a series of short, lively chapters whose purpose is to convey the overall drama of hectic change which stopped well short of political revolution.  Britain was still ruled by wealthy landonwners in 1870 as it had been in 1783.  The world over which they presided, however, had been transformed utterly.  It had become an urban, industrial and commercial society, a change achieved without revolution.  [Evans examines whether their success in doing so was due more to good management than good fortune.] This new edition includes a new and revisionist introductory chapter and a thoroughly updated bibliography.  The book appears with illustrations for the first time. Eric J. Evans is Professor of History at Lancaster University and the author of a number of seminal books on the political and social history of eighteenth and nineteenth century Britain.

About the Author
 Eric J. Evans is Professor of History at Lancaster University and the author of a number of seminal books on eighteenth and nineteenth century history.

Customer Reviews

Erudite, detailed and indespensable.
The Forging of the Modern State is the type of book that I learned to love. God knows that at first I had a love-hate relationship with Professor Evans! On the face of it, this 'looks' like a difficult book. It is dense, wordy and has so much detail. But, these are all good things of course! By the end of my studies I grew to love the book. It is so crammed full of information that I find it hard to use as much as I would like to!

His chapters are well laid out and offer an overview which is fleshed out as one progresses through the text. The thematic chapters are an innovation. They provide an overview of the important matters of the day. His chapter on class consciousness is quite simply excellent.

Overall, I highly recommed this book. It elucidates the industrial period in the late 18th and 19th century. It contains so much that a few readings are necessary - every reading revealing yet more. Finally, the compendium of information is a marvel to behold.

If you are interested in the period then buy it!