Enlightened Entrepreneurs: Business Ethics in Victorian Britain

Description

This is the story of 10 remarkable Victorian industrialists who came from relatively humble origins and rose through hard work, inventiveness and application to become among the richest and most influential men of their generation. The businesses they created are for the most part still thriving today and include such household names as Cadburys, Rowntrees, Colmans, Boots, Huntley & Palmers and Unilever. Deeply imbued with the values of Victorian Liberalism and of Nonconformity, they showed an active and practical concern for their employees, providing them with housing, health care, education, recreation and entertainment. They also founded charitable trusts such as The Old Vic Theatre and Royal Holloway College, and model communities such as Saltaire.

Ian Bradley is Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology at the University of St Andrews. A former political correspondent on The Times, he has written several books including Abide With Me, The Penguin Book of Hymns, God is Green and The Celtic Way.

"All these Victorian paternalists are fascinating . . . Their philanthropy was indisputable." --Financial Times