A Companion to Nineteenth-Century Britain: (Blackwell Companions to British History)

A Companion to Nineteenth-Century Britain presents 33 essays by expert scholars on all the major aspects of the political, social, economic and cultural history of Britain during the late Georgian and Victorian eras. Truly British, rather than English, in scope. Pays attention to the experiences of women as well as of men. Illustrated with maps and charts. Includes guides to further reading.

Table of Contents:
List of Maps, Diagrams and Tables x Contributors xi Introduction 1 Chris Williams Part I Britain and the World 15 1. Britain and the World Economy 17 Anthony Howe 2. Britain and the European Balance of Power 34 John R. Davis 3. Britain and Empire 53 Douglas M. Peers 4. The Armed Forces 79 Edward M. Spiers Part II Politics and  Government 93 5. The Monarchy and the House of Lords: The ‘Dignified’ Parts of the Constitution 95 William M. Kuhn 6. The State 110 Philip Harling 7. Political Leadership and Political Parties, 1800–46 125 Michael J. Turner 8. Political Leadership and Political Parties, 1846–1900 140 Michael J. Turner 9. Parliamentary Reform and the Electorate 156 Michael S. Smith 10. Politics and Gender 174 Sarah Richardson 11. Political Thought 189 Gregory Claeys Part III Economy and Society 203 12. Agriculture and Rural Society 205 Michael Winstanley 13. Industry and Transport 223 William J. Ashworth 14. Urbanization 238 Simon Gunn 15. The Family 253 Shani D’Cruze 16. Migration and Settlement 273 Ian Whyte 17. Standard of Living, Quality of Life 287 Jane Humphries 18. Class and the Classes 305 Martin Hewitt 19. Economic Thought 321 Noel Thompson Part IV Society and Culture 335 20. Religion 337 Mark A. Smith 21. Literacy, Learning and Education 353 Philip Gardner 22. The Press and the Printed Word 369 Aled Jones 23. Crime, Policing and Punishment 381 Heather Shore 24. Popular Leisure and Sport 396 Andy Croll 25. Health and Medicine 412 Keir Waddington 26. Sexuality 430 Lesley A. Hall 27. The Arts 443 Patricia Pulham 28. The Sciences 457 Iwan Rhys Morus Part V The United Kingdom 471 29. Politics in Ireland 473 Christine Kinealy 30. Economy and Society in Ireland 489 Christine Kinealy 31. Scotland 504 E. W. McFarland 32. Wales 521 Matthew Cragoe 33. British Identities 534 Chris Williams Bibliography of Secondary Sources 553 Index 591

About the Author :
Chris Williams is Professor of Welsh History at the University of Wales, Swansea. He is an editor of the Studies in Welsh History monograph series and a committee member of Llafur, the Welsh People’s History Society. He is the author of Democratic Rhondda: Politics and Society, 1885–1951 (1996), Capitalism, Community and Conflict: The South Wales Coalfield 1898–1947 (1998), and editor (with Duncan Tanner and Deian Hopkin) of The Labour Party in Wales, 1900–2000 (2000) and (with Jane Aaron) of Postcolonial Wales (2005).

Review :
"This book is an excellent companion... It is an ideal book for anyone interested in the history of the nineteenth century." Reference Reviews "This most recent addition to the ambitious Blackwell 'Companions' series in British history is thorough and up-to-date ... For scholars, it will become a well-thumbed historiographical source on their office shelves. Essential." Choice A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year “The Companions to British History…is [an] example of how organization has made a difference in terms of informing the wider public about serious history.” H-Net Reviews