Roger Price is Professor of History, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. His recent book The French Second Empire: An Anatomy of Political Power was published by Cambridge University Press in 2001.

Review of the hardback: 'People and Politics is a towering achievement, one that scholars will consult and engage with for years to come.' European History Quarterly

• Introduction; 1. Dominant classes: the social elites; 2. Coming to terms with 'democracy'; 3. Aspiring social groups: the middle classes; 4. Peasants and rural society: a dominated class?; 5. Peasants and politics; 6. The formation of a working class; 7. The working class challenge: socialisation and political choice; Conclusion.

Roger Price is Professor of History, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. His recent book The French Second Empire: An Anatomy of Political Power was published by Cambridge University Press in 2001.

Review of the hardback: 'People and Politics is a towering achievement, one that scholars will consult and engage with for years to come.' European History Quarterly

• Introduction; 1. Dominant classes: the social elites; 2. Coming to terms with 'democracy'; 3. Aspiring social groups: the middle classes; 4. Peasants and rural society: a dominated class?; 5. Peasants and politics; 6. The formation of a working class; 7. The working class challenge: socialisation and political choice; Conclusion.

Roger Price is Professor of History, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. His recent book The French Second Empire: An Anatomy of Political Power was published by Cambridge University Press in 2001.

Review of the hardback: 'People and Politics is a towering achievement, one that scholars will consult and engage with for years to come.' European History Quarterly

• Introduction; 1. Dominant classes: the social elites; 2. Coming to terms with 'democracy'; 3. Aspiring social groups: the middle classes; 4. Peasants and rural society: a dominated class?; 5. Peasants and politics; 6. The formation of a working class; 7. The working class challenge: socialisation and political choice; Conclusion.