Chris Wrigley was formerly the Head of the School of History and Art History and is Professor of Modern British History at Nottingham University. He has been President of the Historical Association (1996–9), Vice-President of the Royal Historical Society and Chair of the Society for the Study of Labour History. He was awarded an Honorary Litt.D. by the University of East Anglia in 1998. He was also editor of The Historian from 1993 to 1998. His previous books include David Lloyd George and the British Labour Movement (1976), Arthur Henderson (1990), Lloyd George and the Challenge of Labour (1990) and Lloyd George (1992).

"The essays are readable and accessible, and ... provide an introduction to early twentieth-century Britain for students who will benefit from the 35-page bibliography of secondary sources." Economic History Review"Wrigley's volume offers thirty-two essays on various aspects of British history between 1900 and 1939. Both the cast of contributors, and the variety of topics they cover, are impressive ... This is an excellent volume, comprising strong essays ably held together by the editor. It will be of considerable value to students and their lecturers." Andrew Thorpe, University of Exeter

• List of Contributors x Introduction xvPart I British Political Life1 The Conservative Party, 1900–1939: From Crisis to Ascendancy 3Philip Williamson2 The Liberal Party, 1900–1939: Summit and Descent 23Michael Bentley3 The Politics of the Labour Movement, 1900–1939 38Duncan Tanner4 The Politics of National Efficiency and of War, 1900–1918 56G. R. Searle5 Scottish Issues in British Politics, 1900–1939 72I. G. C. Hutchison6 Wales and British Politics, 1900–1939 87R. Merfyn Jones7 Ireland and British Politics, 1900–1939 102D. George Boyce8 Women and Politics, 1900–1939 118Christine CollettePart II Britain and the World9 Immigrants, Sojourners and Refugees: Minority Groups in Britain, 1900–1939 137Anne J. Kershen10 British Foreign Policy, 1900–1939 152G. H. Bennett11 The British Armed Forces, 1900–1939 167David French12 The Empire, 1900–1939 182Martin Kitchen13 The British Economy and the Empire, 1900–1939 198B. R. Tomlinson14 Britain in the International Economy, 1900–1939 212Tim Rooth15 The State and the Economy, 1900–1939 229M. W. KirbyPart III Social and Economic Developments16 The City of London and British Banking, 1900–1939 249R. C. Michie17 Agriculture, Agrarian Society and the Countryside 270Peter Dewey18 Transport, 1900–1939 286Colin Divall19 Industry and Services: Employment and Unemployment 302K. D. Brown20 Industrial Relations in Britain, 1900–1939 319Arthur J. McIvor21 Social Structure, 1900–1939 337Andrew Miles22 Consumption and Consumer Behaviour 353Sue Bowden23 Social Welfare: Public and Private, 1900–1939 373Keith Laybourn24 Housing and Town Planning, 1900–1939 388Helen Meller25 Medicine and Public Health, 1900–1939 405Steven Cherry26 Education, 1900–1939 424Roy Lowe27 Crime, Police and Penal Policy 438Clive Emsley28 Leisure and Sport in Britain, 1900–1939 453Peter J. Beck29 Religion, 1900–1939 470Stuart Mews30 Culture in the Sceptr'd Isle 485Anthony Sutcliffe31 The Impact of the First World War 502Chris Wrigley32 Britishness 517John K. WaltonBibliography of Secondary Sources 532Index 568