Speaking for the People: Party, Language and Popular Politics in England, 1867-1914

Description

Speaking for the People examines the popular appeal of Liberal, Tory and Labour politics between 1867 and 1914. The main theme of the book is a recognition, and exploration, of the problematic relationship between political parties and the people they sought to represent. The book challenges traditional ideas about the "triumph of party" after 1867, suggesting that politics remained much more fluid and unpredictable than historians have often allowed. It is this, the book suggests, that explains why politicians from most parties, including Labour, remained highly ambivalent about the likely consequences of further democratization.

'This is a bold, intelligent, and highly readable book. Lawrence tilts at three central conventions of his period: the rise of class politics, the triumph of party and 'modernization' ... this important contribution, rich in ideas, deserves to be widely read ... Lawrence successfully weaves these disparate strands into a coherent and challenging thesis. In opening up several new fronts in the study of pre-1914 urban politics, this book demonstrates the continued vitality of a well-worn theme.' Economic History Review 'Speaking for the People is an impressive addition to the history of popular politics, which mounts a significant challenge to past work on political modernisation, the advent of party and the rise of class.' James Thompson, History Workshop Journal ' ... a remarkably dense, suggestive, bold and ambitious book which deserves wide and careful attention from all those interested in the social and political histories of 19th and 20th century Britain '. Reviews in History 'This is a rich and challenging book, which repays careful reading by a wide audience interested in the role of locales - how they are made and remade - in the constitution of British social, political and cultural life ... I strongly recommend it.' Economic and Political Areas