The Rise and Fall of Class in Britain - (Leonard Hastings Schoff Lectures) by David Cannadine (Paperback)

About the Book

Although politicians in Britain are now calling for a "classless society," can one conclude, as do many scholars, that class does not matter anymore? Cannadine uncovers the meanings of class for such disparate figures as Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and Margaret Thatcher and identifies the moments when opinion shifted, such as the aftermath of the French Revolution and the rise of the Labour Party in the early twentieth century.

Book Synopsis

Although it is widely believed that the British are obsessed with class to a degree unrivaled by any other nation, politicians in Britain are now calling for a "classless society," and scholars are concluding that class does not matter any more. But has class--once considered the master narrative of British history--fallen, failed, and been dismissed? In this wholly original and brilliantly argued book, David Cannadine shows that Britons have indeed been preoccupied with class, but in ways that are invariably ignorant and confused. Cannadine sets out to expose this ignorance and banish this confusion by imaginatively examining class itself, not so much as the history of society but as the history of the different ways in which Britons have thought about their society.

Cannadine proposes that "class" may best be understood as a shorthand term for three distinct but abiding ways in which the British have visualized their social worlds and identities: class as "us" versus "them;" class as "upper," "middle," and "lower"; and class as a seamless hierarchy of individual social relations. From the eighteenth through the twentieth century, he traces the ebb and flow of these three ways of viewing British society, unveiling the different purposes each model has served.

Encompassing social, intellectual, and political history, Cannadine uncovers the meanings of class from Adam Smith to Karl Marx to Margaret Thatcher, showing the key moments in which thinking about class shifted, such as the aftermath of the French Revolution and the rise the Labor Party in the early twentieth century. He cogently argues that Marxist attempts to view history in terms of class struggle are often as oversimplified as conservative approaches that deny the central place of class in British life. In conclusion, Cannadine considers whether it is possible or desirable to create a "classless society," a pledge made by John Major that has continued to resonate even after the conservative defeat. Until we know what class really means-and has meant-to the British, we cannot seriously address these questions.

Creative, erudite, and accessible, The Rise and Fall of Class in Britain offers a fresh and engaging perspective on both British history and the crucial topic of class.

From the Back Cover

Has "class" -- once considered the master narrative of British history -- fallen, failed, and been dismissed? Although politicians in Britain are now calling for a "classless society", can one conclude, as do many scholars, that class does not matter anymore? David Cannadine offers a fresh and insightful perspective on these questions, uncovering the meanings of class for such disparate figures as Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and Margaret Thatcher. His book demonstrates the key moments in which thinking about class shifted, such as the aftermath of the French Revolution and the rise of the Labour Party in the early twentieth century.

Review Quotes

A book which displays the lucidity, learning, and imaginative grasp for which the author is already widely admired.--Roger Scruton "Literary Review"

By far the best study of this slippery subject that I have ever read.--Peregrine Worsthorne "Spectator"

Everyone interested in the evolution of contemporary Britain should read this book.--Arthur Marwick "Observer"

Fascinating and deeply enjoyable.--Geoffrey Wheatcroft "The Atlantic Monthly"

Invariably stimulating... lights up the history of the past three centuries from an angle to which we are largely unaccustomed.--Philip Ziegler "Daily Telegraph"

Learned, elegant, and thoughtful. One might almost say classy.--John Naughton "The London Times"

About the Author

David Cannadine is professor of history and director of the Institute of Historical Research at London University. He is the author of numerous books including The Pleasures of the Past; The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy; G. M. Trevelyan: A Life in History; and History in Our Time.