Independent Radicalism in Early Victorian Britain

(Hardback)

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Description

The reasons why people arise to express dissatisfaction with their present, and how they imagine and work towards an alternative, have enduring relevance. The reform campaigns of nineteenth century Britain are of interest not only in their own right, but also because of what they reveal about processes of political and social change. This book examines the personal, social, political, ideological, and tactical components of radicalism in Britain between the 1820s and 1860s, and casts new light on the meaning, nature, and reception of reform during this period. The main avenues of inquiry are provided by the career of Thomas Perronet Thompson, a prominent MP, political economist, and writer who helped to shape and articulate an "independent radicalism" which - with its distinctive commitments, outlook, and identity - has not previously been defined or explained. By relating Thompson's career to wider developments, and investigating the generation and impact of "independent radicalism," this book deepens our understanding of nineteenth-century British reformers and clarifies the relationship between parliament and people and the extent to which decisions taken at the top were made in response to - or in spite of - pressure from below. Turner's findings will be of interest not only to students of the past, but also to observers of current and ongoing struggles between forces of conservatism and reform.

Reviews

[A]n intelligent and accessible interpretation of political radicalism in nineteenth-century Britain.-History
This is a painstaking, comprehensive, and scholarly study of a largely neglected figure in the history of early Victorian radicalism that makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the latter.-American Historical Review
Thomas Perronet Thompson (1783-1869) is simply a "reformer" to most Victorianists, but Turner puts flesh on his subject and unfolds the career of a remarkable, versatile man....One can only marvel at Thompson's energy, independence of mind, and willingness to challenge privilege and injustice--thus his "independent" radicalism. The book is scholarly, clearly written, and provides a window into early- and mid-Victorian politics. Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.-Choice
"An intelligent and accessible interpretation of political radicalism in nineteenth-century Britain."-History
"This is a painstaking, comprehensive, and scholarly study of a largely neglected figure in the history of early Victorian radicalism that makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the latter."-American Historical Review
"[A]n intelligent and accessible interpretation of political radicalism in nineteenth-century Britain."-History
"Thomas Perronet Thompson (1783-1869) is simply a "reformer" to most Victorianists, but Turner puts flesh on his subject and unfolds the career of a remarkable, versatile man....One can only marvel at Thompson's energy, independence of mind, and willingness to challenge privilege and injustice--thus his "independent" radicalism. The book is scholarly, clearly written, and provides a window into early- and mid-Victorian politics. Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above."-Choice

Author Bio

MICHAEL J. TURNER is Reader in Modern British History at the University of Sunderland in the United Kingdom. Previously he studied at the University of Oxford and served as a postgraduate fellow at the University of Rochester in New York. His main research interests relate to reform movements in 19th-century Britain, and he has published widely in this field. He was elected as fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 1998.