Chris Renwick

A brilliant book, full of little revelations

Carefully argued, deftly balanced and wittily written, with countless lovely details

The Origins of the Welfare State

Today, everybody seems to agree that something has gone badly wrong with the British welfare state. This major new history tells the story of one the greatest transformations in British intellectual, social and political life: the creation of the welfare state, from the Victorian workhouse, where you had to be destitute to receive help, to a moment just after the Second World War, when government embraced responsibilities for people's housing, education, health and family life, a commitment that was unimaginable just a century earlier. Though these changes were driven by developments in different and sometimes unexpected currents in British life, they were linked by one over-arching idea: that through rational and purposeful intervention, government can remake society. It was an idea that, during the early twentieth century, came to inspire people across the political spectrum. <br/>
<br/>
In exploring this extraordinary transformation, <i>Bread for All</i> explores and challenges our assumptions about what the welfare state was originally for, and the kinds of people who were involved in creating it. In doing so, it asks what the idea continues to mean for us today.

Bread for All

About us

About Us (Header 4)

Kate-Atkinson

James-Baldwin

Marian-Keyes

haruki-murakami-320×320-1

Richard-Osman

Malorie Blackman

Lisa-Jewell

Charlie-Mackesy

Authors (Header 3)

Children&#039;s

Company

Discover

Fiction

Non-fiction

Penguin Classics

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

Work with us

prhuk-authors

Penguin Shop: 3 Clothbound Classics for £33

Chris Renwick

Praise for Bread for All

A brilliant book, full of little revelations

Carefully argued, deftly balanced and wittily written, with countless lovely details

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter