In the age of material crises of rural areas, worries about environmental damage and factory farming, urban people's attitudes to the countryside have changed. Rural areas are still seen as places to roam and to enjoy, yet modern agriculture also causes anxities about the land and its products.
Alun Howkins's panoramic survey is a social history of rural England and Wales in the twentieth century. He examines the impact of the First World War, the role of agriculture throughout the century, and the expectations of the countryside that modern urban people harbour. Howkins analyses the role of rural England as a place for work as well as leisure, and the problems caused by these often conflicting roles. This researched overview will be welcomed by anyone interested in agricultural and social history, historical geographers, and all those interested in contemporary rural affairs.

First published in 1985, this book presents the first detailed account of the relationship between the farmworkers, trades unionism, and political and social radicalism. Rural radicalism, one of the most important new features of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century politics, was particularly strong in Norfolk and as such provides the focus for this study. The author shows the how relationship between 'master and man' and 'man' and 'work' was changing in the period from the 1870s to the 1920s - ending with the great strike of 1923. The main themes are the shifts from religion to politics, from Liberalism to Labour, and in more general terms from local to national consciousness. The book shows men at work and the ways in which politics meshed - or failed to mesh - together. Based on detailed local research and on many hours of recorded interviews, it enables the voice of the labourer to be heard, and a real sense of hope, fear and aspiration to come through.

The text covers the period of English rural history from the high point of Britain's agricultural power in the 1850s and 1860s through to the grim years of the inter-war period. Uncovering many of the myths of an idyllic rural England, Howkins looks in detail at the role of women, the workplace, the family and religion. Topics covered include: the creation of a stable social order by the rural elites, concealing widespread poverty and disorder; the economic collapse of the cereal market in the 1870s; the emergence of trade unions and other forms of social conflict in the countryside; and changes in agricultural production and the horror of war. Alun Howkins combines the concerns of the new social history with original research to produce an account of the transformation of a society.

First published in 1985, this book presents the first detailed account of the relationship between the farmworkers, trades unionism, and political and social radicalism. Rural radicalism, one of the most important new features of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century politics, was particularly strong in Norfolk and as such provides the focus for this study. The author shows the how relationship between 'master and man' and 'man' and 'work' was changing in the period from the 1870s to the 1920s - ending with the great strike of 1923. The main themes are the shifts from religion to politics, from Liberalism to Labour, and in more general terms from local to national consciousness. The book shows men at work and the ways in which politics meshed - or failed to mesh - together. Based on detailed local research and on many hours of recorded interviews, it enables the voice of the labourer to be heard, and a real sense of hope, fear and aspiration to come through.

First Published in 1991. Reshaping Rural England covers the crucial period of English rural history from the high point of Britain's agricultural power in the 1850s and 1860s through to the grim years of the inter-war period. Uncovering many of the myths of an idyllic rural England, Howkins looks in detail at the role of women, the workplace, the family and religion. Topics covered include: * the creation of a stable social order by the rural elites, concealing widespread poverty and disorder. * the economic collapse of the cereal market in the 1870s. * the emergence of trade unions and other forms of social conflict in the countryside. * changes in agricultural production and the horror of war. Alun Howkins combines the concerns of the new social history with original research to produce an accessible and coherent account of the transformation of a society.