Modern British History
Joseph Sramek
Articles
Book review of a book about the bobbies of Victorian London.
Shifting Images of the Criminal in Victorian England (bk review)
This is a book review of Martin Wiener's book on the shifting image of the criminal from early Victorian England to late Victorian England.
The British Labour Party and Foreign Policy, 1900-31, Part II
Part II of a four-part series examining the development of the Labour Party's foreign policy from its founding in 1900 to the the formation of the National Government in 1931. Previous articles of mine discuss the development of the Labour Party's foreign policy during the 1930s in reaction to fascism.
The British Labour Party and Foreign Policy, 1900-31, Part I
Part I of a four-part series examining the development of the Labour Party's foreign policy from its founding in 1900 to the the formation of the National Government in 1931. Previous articles of mine discuss the development of the Labour Party's foreign policy during the 1930s in reaction to fascism.
First and Unique: Britain's Industrial Revolution, Part IV
This four-part series explores the uniqueness of Britain's industrial revolution in the 19th century vis-a-vis Germany and France. Parts 1 and 2 explore the contrast between Britain and Germany; Parts 3 and 4 with France.
First and Unique: Britain's Industrial Revolution, Part III
This four-part series explores the uniqueness of Britain's industrial revolution in the 19th century vis-a-vis Germany and France. Parts 1 and 2 explore the contrast between Britain and Germany; Parts 3 and 4 with France.
First and Unique: Britain's Industrial Revolution, Part II
This four-part series explores the uniqueness of Britain's industrial revolution in the 19th century vis-a-vis Germany and France. Parts 1 and 2 explore the contrast between Britain and Germany; Parts 3 and 4 with France.
First and Unique: Britain's Industrial Revolution, Part I
This four-part series explores the uniqueness of Britain's industrial revolution in the 19th century vis-a-vis Germany and France. Parts 1 and 2 explore the contrast between Britain and Germany; Parts 3 and 4 with France.
An English Lady in the French Colonies, Part V
A great many female European travelers visited places in the various European empires during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and wrote travel accounts of these places. It has been argued by feminist scholars that many of them wrote differently than their male counterparts, in particular showing more empathy for the individuals ...
An English Lady in the French Colonies, Part IV
A great many female European travelers visited places in the various European empires during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and wrote travel accounts of these places. It has been argued by feminist scholars that many of them wrote differently than their male counterparts, in particular showing more empathy for the individuals ...
An English Lady in the French Colonies, Part III
A great many female European travelers visited places in the various European empires during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and wrote travel accounts of these places. It has been argued by feminist scholars that many of them wrote differently than their male counterparts, in particular showing more empathy for the individuals ...
An English Lady in the French Colonies, Part II
A great many female European travelers visited places in the various European empires during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and wrote travel accounts of these places. It has been argued by feminist scholars that many of them wrote differently than their male counterparts, in particular showing more empathy for the individuals ...
An English Lady in the French Colonies: Gabrielle Vassal, Part I
A great many female European travelers visited places in the various European empires during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and wrote travel accounts of these places. It has been argued by feminist scholars that many of them wrote differently than their male counterparts, in particular showing more empathy for the individuals ...
Labour and Hitler's Rise to Power, 1933-34
Hitler's rise to power in Germany and the consolidation of his regime between Jan. 1933 and July-Aug. 1934 was a source of much consternation among left parties and political organizations throughout Europe. This article examines the impact Hitler had on the British Labour Party, and how it led to, regarding the ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part XIII
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists which was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part XII
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists which was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part XI
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists which was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part X
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists which was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part IX
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists which was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part VIII
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists which was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part VII
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists which was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part VI
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists which was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part V
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists which was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part IV
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists which was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part III
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the suffragette leader, and James Ramsay McDonald, future Labour Party ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part II
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists which was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the ...
The Fabians and the British Empire, Part I
The Fabian Society was an important group of middle-class British socialists which was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Among the more famous members included the playwright George Bernard Shaw, the novelist H.G. Wells, and the social investigators Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Some less known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, the ...
Margaret Thatcher's Revolution of 1979? (book review)
Margaret Thatcher was one of the more important Prime Ministers of the twentieth century, particularly the second half. While it is too early to fully assess or begin to assess (in my opinion) the effect of her premiership, this extended essay of books by Kenneth Harris, Hugo Young, Kenneth Minogue and ...
The Development of the British Working Class, A Debate: Part II
Part 2 of a two-part series exploring the debate among British historians about the emergence and development of the British working class during the 19th century.
The Development of the British Working Class, A Debate: Part I
Part 1 of a two-part series exploring the debate among British historians about the emergence and development of the British working class during the 19th century.
Were the Interwar Years Truly a Slump?, Part II (book review)
Part 2 of a two part essay looking at the Interwar period-- the period between WWI and WWII-- in the context of Britain's society and economy. I look at four historians who debate the question of whether the period should be considered a "slump."
Were the Interwar Years Truly a Slump?, Part I (book review)
Part 1 of a two part essay looking at the Interwar period-- the period between WWI and WWII-- in the context of Britain's society and economy. I look at four historians who debate the question of whether the period should be considered a "slump."
Colonial Medicine (book review)
Colonial medicine is often seen as a major "tool of empire." Yet, as historian David Arnold shows us, in many ways, this aspect of the British "civilizing mission" was an abominable failure.
Roy Jenkin's Gladstone (book review)
William Ewart Gladstone was arguably the greatest political leader of the nineteenth century. He served as Prime Minister an unprecedented four times, and more than its namesake, embodied the Victorian Era. This is a review of the recent biography by Lord Roy Jenkins, a prominent 20th century politician and historian.
Europe's Second Dark Ages? (book review)
Mark Mazower, in his new book, DARK CONTINENT: EUROPE'S 20TH CENTURY, offers a pessimistic, yet quite compelling, survey of the history of twentieth-century Europe.
"Far Away Places:" Anschluss, Munich and Labour, 1938, Part III
Labour played an important role in opposition to Munich, a role seldom realized by many today. This 3-part series lays out the Labour Party role in the debate, amid much background information on Munich itself.
"Far Away Places:" Anschluss, Munich and Labour, 1938, Part II
Labour played an important role in opposition to Munich, a role seldom realized by many today. This 3-part series lays out the Labour Party role in the debate, amid much background information on Munich itself.
"Far Away Places," Anschluss, Munich and Labour, Part I
Labour played an important role in opposition to Munich, a role seldom realized by many today. This 3-part series lays out the Labour Party role in the debate, amid much background information on Munich itself.
A Decision to Abstain: Labour vs. Hitler, 1936-7, Part II
Between 1935 and 1937, a major transformation took place within the Labour Party regarding its policies toward rearmament, Appeasement and Hitler. During this time, the Party jettisoned its prior policies of disarmament and collective security through the League of Nations and instead, by 1937, accepted the fact that rearmament was needed ...
A Decision to Abstain: Labour vs. Hitler, 1936-7, Part 1
Between 1935 and 1937, a major transformation took place within the Labour Party regarding its policies toward rearmament, Appeasement and Hitler. During this time, the Party jettisoned its prior policies of disarmament and collective security through the League of Nations and instead, by 1937, accepted the fact that rearmament was needed ...
War and Responsibilty: Ferguson's PITY OF WAR (book review)
Niall Ferguson's latest book THE PITY OF WAR has caused a firestorm of controversy among academics and others and has profoundly affected the debate about World War I. "The A.J.P. Taylor" of his generation, Ferguson's book is fun, historically entertaining and interesting, as well as extremely controversial and often wrong. This ...
How Great Was the Great War? (book review of 3 books)
The Great War has traditionally been seen as a great event of the twentieth century, particularly for British social history. This essay reexamines this issue, looking at some old "classics" as well as contemporary work on the subject.
Gender and Class in Victorian England, Part II
Part II of an extended book essay discussing the work that historians Anna Clark, Jane Lewis, Joan Perkin, and Judith Walkowitz have done on the twin issues of gender and class relations in Victorian England.
Gender and Class in Victorian England, Part I
Part I of an extended book essay discussing the work that historians Anna Clark, Jane Lewis, Joan Perkin, and Judith Walkowitz have done on the twin issues of gender and class relations in Victorian England.
The Coming of Age of Imperialism (1772-1813), Part III
Part III of a four-part series that examines the "coming of age" of British imperialism over a half century via the vantage point of education policy.
The Coming of Age of Imperialism (1772-1813), Part II
Part II of a four-part series that examines the "coming of age" of British imperialism over a half century via the vantage point of education policy.
The Coming of Age of Imperialism (1772-1813), Part IV
Conclusion of a four-part series that examines the "coming of age" of British imperialism over a half century via the vantage point of education policy.
The Coming of Age of Imperialism (1772-1813), Part 1
Part I of a four-part series that examines the "coming of age" of British imperialism over a half century via the vantage point of education policy.
Sir William Jones (1748-1794): The "Good" Orientalist?, Part III
Part III of a three-part series, that discusses the modern historical debate about the British Orientalists, a group of late 18th century/early 19th century century scholars who went to India to study its languages, cultures, histories and societies. This effort has come under scathing criticism over the past 20 years as ...
Sir William Jones (1748-1794): The "Good" Orientalist?, Part II
Part II of a three-part series, that discusses the modern historical debate about the British Orientalists, a group of late 18th century/early 19th century century scholars who went to India to study its languages, cultures, histories and societies. This effort has come under scathing criticism over the past 20 years as ...
Sir William Jones (1748-1794): The "Good" Orientalist?, Part I
Part I of a three-part series, that discusses the modern historical debate about the British Orientalists, a group of late 18th century/early 19th century scholars who went to India to study its languages, cultures, histories and societies. This effort has come under scathing criticism over the past twenty years as being ...
Overview of 19th c. British Social History (book review)
Jose Harris is one of the top social historians of Modern British history. Her latest book, reviewed in this essay, reexamines the social history of Britain during the near half century before the First World War, arguing that that, rather than the war, was the chief defining moment in British historical ...
The British Empire (book review of 2 books)
The history of the British Empire is elegantly captured in the recent surveys written by Lawrence James and noted historian Denis Judd. This article examines both books and the subject of the general history of the British Empire.
The Irish Potato Famines of 1845-49: A British Genocide?
As we Irish [and all others--remember everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day] get ready to celebrate St. Patrick's Day again with all of its gaieties, we should bear in mind the horrors of the last famine in Europe, the Irish potato famines of 1845-1849. Over 1 million Irish men and ...
"The Sun Never Sets....": An Overview of the British Empire
The British Empire was the modern version of the classical Roman Empire--in fact, according to some it "...was more extensive, more populous, and arguably more influential..." The next series of articles will devote their attention to the fascinating topic of the British Empire.
Britons: Forging A Nation, 1707-1837 (book review)
Linda Colley is among the greatest living historians in the field of Modern Britain. Her major book, Britons: Forging the Nation, 1707-1837 is the focus of this article as well as the previous one.
The Making of Britain By France
Explores the role that a hostile "Other" can have on the forming of a national identity.
New Year, New Topic Title, New Articles...
An open letter to readers and an agenda for 1999.
A Campaign For Unity: Cripps' Unity Campaign, 1935-39, Part III
Part III of a three-part series about Sir Stafford Cripps and his Unity Campaign during the 1930s, a political campaign aimed at stopping Fascism.
A Campaign For Unity: Cripp's Unity Campaign, 1935-39, Part II**
Part II of a three-part series about Sir Stafford Cripps and his Unity Campaign during the 1930s, a political campaign aimed at stopping Fascism.
A Campaign For Unity: Cripps' Unity Campaign, 1935-1939, Part I
Introduction and Part I of a three-part series about Sir Stafford Cripps and his Unity Campaign during the 1930s, a political campaign aimed at stopping Fascism.
A League of Nations, For Nations? Part II
Part II of a two-part series about the pivotal 1935 Labour Party Annual Conference, held at Brighton, England, where the parliamentary leader, George Lansbury, an absolute pacifist was ousted from leadership, and pacifism was thoroughly rejected as party policy.
A League of Nations, For Nations? Part I
Part I of a two-part series about the pivotal 1935 Labour Party Annual Conference, held at Brighton, England, where the parliamentary leader, George Lansbury, an absolute pacifist was ousted from leadership, and pacifism was thoroughly rejected as party policy.
The Labour Party and the Spanish Civil War, Part II
Part II of a two-part series on the British Labour Party and the Spanish Civil War. (1936-39)
The Labour Party and the Spanish Civil War, Part I
First part of a two-part series on the British Labour Party and the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).
The Ghosts of War: Popular Memory and the Battle of the Somme [WWI]
A look at how some battles in World War I forever scarred the British psyche. Looks at the effect of the Battle of the Somme on Britain.
How The Greatest Person of the 20th Century Overcame A Ghost
Winston Churchill is often depicted as the greatest person of the 20th century. What many don't realize is that he suffered numerous bouts of depression and doubted several times whether he would "make it." One of the causes of this was the ghost of his father, Lord Randolph Churchill, which haunted ...
What If Belgium Hadn't Been Invaded in 1914??
Article exploring whether Britain would have entered World War I without the German invasion of Belgium.
A Crusade For Peace: George Lansbury's Worldwide Trip for Peace, 1936-37
Article about George Lansbury's frantic effort in 1936 and 1937 to effect peace in the face of fascism.
The Greatest Deception of All Time: Britain, Ultra, and D-Day
Too Close For Comfort: Britain, Ultra, and the Battle of the Atlantic (1941-43)
Article about Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War (1941-1943), and the role that British and German intelligence played in that important battle.
Ultra and the Battle for North Africa (1941-43)
Article about British intelligence's role in the North African campaign (1941-1943] during the Second World War.
Adlerstag, Knickebeins, and Bletchey Park: Britain, Ultra, and the Battle of Britain, 1940
Article about a little-known aspect of the Battle of Britain--- how the cracking of German Luftwaffe codes led to the RAF's victory.
First article of a four-part series on Britain's main contribution to Allied victory during the Second World War: Ultra.
"A Prophet Before Her Time:" Beatrice Potter Webb, Part III
Part III of three-part series on Beatrice Potter Webb, Britain's greatest political theorist of the 20th Century!!
"A Prophet Before Her Time:" Beatrice Potter Webb, Part II
Part II of three-part series on Beatrice Potter Webb, Britain's greatest political theorist of the 20th Century!!
"A Prophet Before Her Time:" Beatrice Potter Webb, Part I
Part I of three-part series on Beatrice Potter Webb, Britain's greatest political theorist of the 20th Century!!
How To Marry An English Lord: The Uniting of British Lords and American Heiresses
Article about the trend of rich American heiresses marrying into British nobility during America's Gilded Age, 1870-1914.
"What About the Rentiers:?" The Formation of the National Government (1931), Part II
"What About the Rentiers?": The Formation of the National Government (1931), Part I
The Conscience of His Generation: George Lansbury, Pacifism, and the 1930s
"A Party For Ordinary Blokes:" The Birth Of Britain's Labour Party, 1900-1924
Labour Party, 1900-1924, Liberal Party, 1900-1924, World War I, Britain, politics, David Lloyd George
The Statute of Westminster (1931): Canada's "Declaration of Independence"
Canada Day, Fourth of July, July 4th, Independence Day, Canada, United States, Celebrations
The War Fought Over "A Scrap of Paper:" England And The Outbreak Of WWI
Lloyd George's "People's Budget," and the <i>Parliamentary Act of 1911,</i> Part II
Lloyd George's "People's Budget," and the <i>Parliamentary Act of 1911,</i> Part I
The Boer War (1899-1902): Britain's Wakeup Call
The Boer War was the major colonial war of British Empire history. Fought between 1899 and 1902, it was a major turning point between the 19th and the 20th centuries. Not only was the Boer War the first war for a combatant [Britain] to use concentration camps, but it also lead ...
Churchill: Person of the Century
The Dieppe Raid in its Proper Context
The Sounds and Voices of Munich
The consequences of Appeasement