Labour in British society, 1830-1914

In the nineteenth century, more so than now, work shaped people's lives. The nature and variety of their labour governed where and how they lived. The main theme of this wide-ranging analytical narrative is how the lives of the working class changed in Britain between 1830 and 1914. Few groups of workers were unaffected by the transformation of the economy; for most, the impact was profound. In a study that deploys a range of primary material and takes account of recent historical writings, the authors examine the nature of the changes that took place and their consequences. The treatment is thematic, while ensuring that a clear account is given of how workers' economic, social and cultural lives were subject to change.