British Society Since 1945 by Arthur Marwick

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British Society Since 1945

The Penguin Social History of Britain

» Arthur Marwick

Translator - John Ciardi

Penguin : Social History of Britain
Paperback : 27 Feb 2003

£14.99

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Synopsis

Arthur Marwick’s penetrating survey of Britain’s society and lifestyles since the Second World War has been extensively updated for the twenty-first century.

High and popular culture; race, gender and class relations; science and technology; ‘Britishness’ and relations with Europe – the diversity of social developments in these areas from 1945 to 2002 is explored here within a clear chronological framework. An examination of opinion polls and two major sex surveys offer fascinating insights into current social attitudes. And additional chapters bring this edition right up to date, offering a lively critique of New Labour and discussing many recent issues that affect the nation today, such as devolution in Scotland and Wales, race riots, the BSE and foot-and-mouth crises, and the effect on the economy of September 11.

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Critic Review:

‘A tour de force … Marwick moves dexterously through a wide variety of sources, ranging from poetry through film and novels to opinion polls … it is astonishing how much he gets in’
John Dancy, Times Educational Supplement

‘Stimulates curiosity by frequent cross-references to more specialized reading as well as a pungently provocative commentary on the essential facts and figures … Marwick’s judgements and comments are sane and rewarding’
Paul Addison, History

‘An enjoyable, readable, usable achievement which leads the field’
Sunday Times

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Table of contents

British Society Since 1945 - Arthur Marwick

Preface
Introduction: "How It Was," "What Went Wrong?," or "From Consensus to Divided Society and Half-way Back?"

Part One: Social Consensus 1945-57
1. British Journey
2. That Topic All-Absorbing: Class
3. The Welfare State
4. Hearth, Home, and Street Corner
5. The Culture of Austerity
6. Consensus Re-examined

Part Two: Roads to Freedom 1958-73
7. Afflunce, Appliances, and Work
8. Critiques, Boutiques, and Pop
9. The End of Victorianism
10. Social Structure and Social Strains
11. False Optimism

Part Three: The Time of Troubles 1973-82
12. Gloom on the Man-Made Island 1973-80
13. Class, Race, and Nationalism
14. Living Standards
15. "Gimme a Man After Midnight"
16. Tolerance and Confrontation
17. The Winter of Discontent and the Summer of the Fire Bombs

Part Four: Privatization, Polarization and IT 1982-9
18. The Processes of Change
19. The Geography of "Post-Industrialization": Mainland Britain and Northern Ireland
20. The "Enterprise Economy"
21. Workers, Yuppies, and Hooligans
22. Social Policy and Social Life
23. The Hallmark of a Civilization: "An Ace Caff with Quite a Nice Museum Attached"

Part Five: A Society at Odds with Itself 1989-97
24. Divisive Requests: Cultural and Political
25. Social Reform with a Sting
26. Class, Race, Identity

Part Six: A Faltering Return Towards Consensus? 1997-2002
27. The Odd Shape of the Nation
28. Service with a Scowl
29. The Pleasures and Pains of Life

Notes on Sources and Guide to Further Reading
Index