Chris Williams is Professor of Welsh History at the University of Wales, Swansea. He is an editor of the Studies in Welsh History monograph series and a committee member of Llafur, the Welsh People’s History Society. He is the author of Democratic Rhondda: Politics and Society, 1885–1951 (1996), Capitalism, Community and Conflict: The South Wales Coalfield 1898–1947 (1998), and editor (with Duncan Tanner and Deian Hopkin) of The Labour Party in Wales, 1900–2000 (2000) and (with Jane Aaron) of Postcolonial Wales (2005).

"This book is an excellent companion... It is an ideal book for anyone interested in the history of the nineteenth century." Reference Reviews "This most recent addition to the ambitious Blackwell 'Companions' series in British history is thorough and up-to-date ... For scholars, it will become a well-thumbed historiographical source on their office shelves. Essential." Choice A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year “The Companions to British History…is [an] example of how organization has made a difference in terms of informing the wider public about serious history.”H-Net Reviews

• List of Maps, Diagrams and Tables xContributors xiIntroduction 1Chris WilliamsPart I Britain and the World 151. Britain and the World Economy 17Anthony Howe2. Britain and the European Balance of Power 34John R. Davis3. Britain and Empire 53Douglas M. Peers4. The Armed Forces 79Edward M. SpiersPart II Politics and  Government 935. The Monarchy and the House of Lords: The ‘Dignified’ Parts of the Constitution 95William M. Kuhn6. The State 110Philip Harling7. Political Leadership and Political Parties, 1800–46 125Michael J. Turner8. Political Leadership and Political Parties, 1846–1900 140Michael J. Turner9. Parliamentary Reform and the Electorate 156Michael S. Smith10. Politics and Gender 174Sarah Richardson11. Political Thought 189Gregory ClaeysPart III Economy and Society 20312. Agriculture and Rural Society 205Michael Winstanley13. Industry and Transport 223William J. Ashworth14. Urbanization 238Simon Gunn15. The Family 253Shani D’Cruze16. Migration and Settlement 273Ian Whyte17. Standard of Living, Quality of Life 287Jane Humphries18. Class and the Classes 305Martin Hewitt19. Economic Thought 321Noel ThompsonPart IV Society and Culture 33520. Religion 337Mark A. Smith21. Literacy, Learning and Education 353Philip Gardner22. The Press and the Printed Word 369Aled Jones23. Crime, Policing and Punishment 381Heather Shore24. Popular Leisure and Sport 396Andy Croll25. Health and Medicine 412Keir Waddington26. Sexuality 430Lesley A. Hall27. The Arts 443Patricia Pulham28. The Sciences 457Iwan Rhys MorusPart V The United Kingdom 47129. Politics in Ireland 473Christine Kinealy30. Economy and Society in Ireland 489Christine Kinealy31. Scotland 504E. W. McFarland32. Wales 521Matthew Cragoe33. British Identities 534Chris WilliamsBibliography of Secondary Sources 553Index 591