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Ross McKibbin investigates the ways in which 'class culture' characterized English society, and intruded into every aspect of life, during the period from 1918 to the mid-1950s. He demonstrates the influence of social class within the mini 'cultures' which together constitute society: families and family life, friends and neighbours, the workplace, schools and colleges, religion, sexuality, sport, music, film, and radio. Dr McKibbin considers the ways in which
language was used (both spoken and written) to define one's social grouping, and how far changes occurred to language and culture more generally as a result of increasing American influence. He assesses the
role of status and authority in English society, the social significance of the monarchy and the upper classes, the opportunities for social mobility, and the social and ideological foundations of English politics. In this fascinating study, Ross McKibbin exposes the fundamental structures and belief systems which underpinned English society in the first half of the twentieth century.
Ross McKibbin investigates the ways in which 'class culture' characterized English society, and intruded into every aspect of life, during the period from 1918 to the mid-1950s. He demonstrates the influence of social class within the mini 'cultures' which together constitute society: families and family life, friends and neighbours, the workplace, schools and colleges, religion, sexuality, sport, music, film, and radio. Dr McKibbin considers the ways in which
language was used (both spoken and written) to define one's social grouping, and how far changes occurred to language and culture more generally as a result of increasing American influence. He assesses the
role of status and authority in English society, the social significance of the monarchy and the upper classes, the opportunities for social mobility, and the social and ideological foundations of English politics. In this fascinating study, Ross McKibbin exposes the fundamental structures and belief systems which underpinned English society in the first half of the twentieth century.
1: The Upper Class: Honour and Wealth
2: The Middle Class (I)
3: The Middle Class (II)
4: The Working Class (I)
5: The Working Class (II)
6: Education and Mobility
7: Religion and Belief
8: Sexuality and Morality
9: The Sporting Life
10: Music for the People
11: The Cinema and the English
12: Listening In
13: The Community of Language
14: Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Ross McKibbin is Fellow and Tutor in Modern History at St John's College, Oxford.
`the implications of class culture for the period have never been
spelled out so throroughly. The strength of this book lies in its
detailed description of how class and culture interacted.'
Harold L.Smith, American Historical Rev., Apr. 2000.
`a work of major importance that will have to be taken seriously by
anyone concerned with the role of class in twentieth-century
England.'
Harold L.Smith, American Historical Rev., Apr 2000.
`Ross McKibbin is one of the leading historians of twentieth
century Britain. His work is an important reference point for those
who wish to fully understand British politics and society in the
first five decades or so of this century ... McKibbin presents his
material well.'
Contemporary British History, Vol.13, No.3, 1999.
`McKibbin is excellent on matters as diverse as "ribbon
development" in interwar housing, the different forms of male and
female sociability in the working class, the impact of Hollywood
films, the nature and appeal of betting, and much else
besides.'
Stefan Collini, TLS website
`mordantly witty Classes and Cultures: England 1918-1951 (OUP £25)
side-steps high politics in order to unpick the threads of the
British class system, richly mixing statistics and evidence drawn
from mass literature.'
Ben Pilmot/Ind. on Sunday/29/11/98 Culture (Page 2)
`Ross McKibbin's compassionate and detailed addition to the social
history of Britain, C and C gave us humane scholarship at its very
best.'
Lucasta Miller/ Ind. on Sunday/29/1//98 Culture (Page 2)
`I am looking forward to reading Classes and Cultures: England
1918-1951 by Ross McKibbin (OUP, £25).'
Richard Eyre, Financial Times weekend ed
`There is much that is interesting in McKibbin's book; he has
thought deeply about his subject and knows it intimately; his
references are drawn from an impressively wide and rich cultural
field.'
Philip Ziegler, Daily Telegraph
`fascinating new work ... It is a vividly detailed, highly readable
account of the actual cultures of the classes ... McKibbin is
fascinating and informative on home ownership.'
Bernard Crick, Independent Saturday Magazine
`important study ... Every page of this book scintillates,
combining high scholarship, understated argument and droll
humour.'
Ben Pimlott, New Statesman & Society
`...a detailed, thorough, well written and full account, which
treats its subject fairly, and is well worth reading for anyone
interested in the recent history of British culture and
society.'
Dave Renton. Socialist Review. October 1998.
`absorbing book ... McKibbin's is a compelling and stimulating
analysis, full of fascinating detail shaped by the continuing
relevance of the main themes, and impressive in the imagination and
perception brought to the period. The style is characterstically
trenchant and relentlessly analytical. The judgements on particular
points of culture and social life are authoritative rather than
derivative. It is written with humour, wit and sympathy; like some
of
the fiction he describes, the book is hard to put down. It is a
splendid achievement.'
R. C. Whiting, University of Leeds, EHR Sept 99
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