Geoffrey Crossick is Professor of History and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Essex and author of An Artisan Elite in Victorian Society. Heinz-Gerhard Haupt is Professor of History at the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg and author of A Social History in France since 1789. Both authors have published widely on modern European social history.

'An impressive survey.' 'An excellent survey and makes for interesting reading.' - University of Edinburgh, Social History Bulletin'It is a significant work, meriting a wide and appreciative audience.' - T Griffiths, University of Edinburgh'Crossick and Haupt take on important topics with energy and insight ... This is a solid, worthy book that will make its mark, and deservedly so.'- - John Merriman, Economic History Review'This is through, penetrating and sympathetic study, which is set to become the standard text on the petite bourgeoisie in nineteenth-century Europe.' - Robert Gildea, English Historical Review, November 1997'Overall The Petie Bourgeoisie in Europe provides a richly textured. It is a good place to begin, and to conclude, the search for a vital but long caricatured social group.' - Eric D. Weitz, International Review of Social Historu.

• Preface 1 INTRODUCTION 2 THE TRANSITION FROM CORPORATIONS 3 SMALL ENTERPRISE: SURVIVAL OR DECLINE? 4 A WORLD IN MOVEMENT 5 THE FAMILY: IMAGES AND NECESSITIES 6 THE PETITE BOURGEOISIE AND THE TOWN 7 POLITICS: THE WORLD OF THE PEOPLE AND THE MOVE TO THE RIGHT 8 PETITS BOURGEOIS AND WORKERS 9 CULTURE AND SOCIABILITY 10 CONCLUSION: INTO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY