Product Description

Aberdeen is a city shaped by its geography, climate and architecture. Like the land from which it grew, its projects qualities of hard work and fortitude, firm solidity, self-confidence and aspiration. It is a city with a character and personality that reflects its people. Conservative and "canny" in some senses, it has often been radical and inovative in its This book provides an understanding of the changes that have taken place in Aberdeen's economic and social structure since 1800, from the age of textiles to the age of oil. It analyzes changes in work patterns, housing, education, economy, social welfare, religion, local government, leisure and culture, and discusses the effects of national and international market forces, periods of instability and high growth, and political struggles. It features many of the people who played an important part in this period of Aberdeen's history. This history by 13 historians, economists, political scientists and geographers, shows that Aberdeen has survived economic upheavals and the disruption of two world wars, emerging as an independent city with a sense of its own worth and values.politics and in tackling social issues.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #419399 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-30
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 524 pages

Customer Reviews

interesting insight into the coming of age of a small city
An interesting selection of chapters from a number of authors.

This book is a companion to 'Aberdeen: before 1800' and provides an excellent follow-on - infact, read the other volume first.

The results, as a whole, is an eye opening view of the transformation of a city from a dense slum to a city of international trading importance, and will obviously be of particular interest to readers with some attachment to Aberdeen.

Like its companion volume, it fails at points in the editing - the styles between chapters vary widely and there is some duplication of content. It also chooses to highlight some people of the late twentieth century who will unlikely be regarded as significant in the longer term future record of the city.

However, if you do have an Aberdeen connection, then this should fuel your interest to explore and appreciate the city in a refreshing light.

A superb history and guide to the city
Like all cities, Aberdeen has seen immense social change and progress during the past two centuries. The North Sea Oil industry has transformed the economy since the 1970s. This excellent book is a must for anyone with an interest in this Scottish city. It is fairly comprehensive and gives good coverage of social and political history, but I am slightly disappointed that the history of St Machar's Cathedral does not receive greater mention. Nevertheless, this is a fascinating and helpful book.