Product Description

Chartism, the mass movement for democratic rights, dominated British domestic politics in the late 1830s and 1840s. It mobilised over three million supporters at its height. Few modern European social movements, certainly in Britain, have captured the attention of posterity to quite the extent it has done. Encompassing moments of great drama, it is one of the very rare points in British history where it is legitimate to speculate how close the country came to revolution. It is also pivotal to debates around continuity and change in Victorian Britain, gender, language and identity. "Chartism: A New History" is the only book to offer in-depth coverage of the entire chronological spread (1838-58) of this pivotal movement and to consider its rich and varied history in full. Based throughout on original research (including newly discovered material), this is a vivid and compelling narrative of a movement which mobilised three million people at its height. The author deftly intertwines analysis and narrative, interspersing his chapters with short 'Chartist Lives', relating the intimate and personal to the realm of the social and political. This book will become essential reading for anyone with an interest in early Victorian Britain, specialists, students and general readers alike.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #140587 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Review
Strangely, until now, we have lacked a comprehensive and scholarly history of Chartism with a full national perspective. Malcom Chase, Reader in Labour History at Leeds University, has filled this yawning gap superbly with a well written, exhaustively researched and very moving account of Britain's largest mass political and social movement. His book, which took 20 years to complete, deservers a wide readership, especially among those still interested in the history of the working classes in this country. Malcom Chase has done them proud with this eloquent tribute to one of the most impressive popular mass movements in British history. --Robert Taylor, Tribune

Customer Reviews

Chartism: A New History
A detailed and interesting in-depth discussion of the Chartism movement and all its major individuals who exerted such time and energy for a political and social cause that would benefit society as a whole but especially the working class.