When you grow up in a household where your mother sleeps with the coalman to secure an extra bag or two, and when you're sent out shoplifting whenever food stocks dwindle, you don't put too high a price on honesty. It is no wonder that Harold Perkins describes himself as 'a liar and a thief' when looking back on his childhood in Bradford. But spells in approved school and borstal changed his outlook. Starting up his own scaffolding business, he came to reap the rewards of hard work - though his professional attitude never got in the way of a good laugh with his mates. Once he had earned the nickname 'Maverick', he never gave anyone reason to change it! Packed with anecdotes both hilarious and hair-raising, and pulling no punches when it comes to expressing opinions of others, this is as lively and challenging a memoir as you are ever likely to read.

The third revolution in human history--after the neolithic agrarian revolution and the modern industrial one--is the revolution of the professionals. Harold Perkin's brilliant new book examines the world's leading professional societies since World War II--the free market economies of the United States, Britain, France, West Germany, and Japan, and the defunct command economies of the Soviet Union and East Germany--and their domination by professional elites, notably state bureaucrats and corporate executives.
Perkins highlights their extraordinary achievements--the highest living standards and the longest, healthiest, most rewarding lives in human history--but warns of the self-destructive greed and corruption which threaten the future of us all.

Originally published in 1969 Key Profession looks at the rise of the academic profession to its influence and importance, through the history of the Association of the University of Teachers, founded in 1919 and celebrating its half-centenary in 1969. As a study of a professional organization and political pressure group concerned with salary negotiations, conditions of service, academic freedom, and public policy on higher education, it is of interest not only to social historians but also to economists, political scientists, sociologists, and all those who have at heart the search for intellectual truth, the maintenance of cultural values and the integrity of the universities. The book tries to show what part the academic profession has played in the shaping of higher education, and through it of modern society, in twentieth-century Britain.

Originally published in 1969 Key Profession looks at the rise of the academic profession to its influence and importance, through the history of the Association of the University of Teachers, founded in 1919 and celebrating its half-centenary in 1969. As a study of a professional organization and political pressure group concerned with salary negotiations, conditions of service, academic freedom, and public policy on higher education, it is of interest not only to social historians but also to economists, political scientists, sociologists, and all those who have at heart the search for intellectual truth, the maintenance of cultural values and the integrity of the universities. The book tries to show what part the academic profession has played in the shaping of higher education, and through it of modern society, in twentieth-century Britain.

The Rise of Professional Society lays out a stimulating and controversial framework for the study of British society, challenging accepted paradigms based on class analysis. Perkins argues that the non-capitalist "professional class" represents a new principle of social organization based on trained expertise and meritocracy, a "forgotten middle class" conveniently overlooked by classical social theorists.

Bringing together subjects such as culture, religion, morals, politics, economics, and mentality, Perkin presents and applies a holistic concept of social history in the tradition of great historians of the past. In this classic text of social history, Harold Perkin explores the emergence of a new form of class society in Victorian England, which differed radically from early modern society. He locates the origins of the modern English class system in the Industrial Revolution, the impact of which went beyond economy and technology, and changed the ways of living and perceptions of the English people in many ways. Origins of Modern English Society maintains its influence as a comprehensive and integrative survey of a crucial period in the development of English society.

First published in 1996. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The Rise of Professional Society lays out a stimulating and controversial framework for the study of British society, challenging accepted paradigms based on class analysis. Perkins argues that the non-capitalist 'professional class' represents a new principle of social organization based on trained expertise and meritocracy, a 'forgotten middle class' conveniently overlooked by classical social theorists.

Bringing together subjects such as culture, religion, morals, politics, economics, and mentality, Perkin presents and applies a holistic concept of social history in the tradition of great historians of the past.

In this classic text of social history, Harold Perkin explores the emergence of a new form of class society in Victorian England, which differed radically from early modern society. He locates the origins of the modern English class system in the Industrial Revolution, the impact of which went beyond economy and technology, and changed the ways of living and perceptions of the English people in many ways.

Origins of Modern English Society maintains its influence as a comprehensive and integrative survey of a crucial period in the development of English society.

This volume of 13 original interdisciplinary essays surveys the relationship of Victorian works and the urban experience that shaped them. Each essay addresses how the selection or rejection of an urban setting provide the context for a representative product of Victorian art or culture.

The third revolution in human history--after the neolithic agrarian revolution and the modern industrial one--is the revolution of the professionals. Harold Perkin's brilliant new book examines the world's leading professional societies since World War II--the free market economies of the United States, Britain, France, West Germany, and Japan, and the defunct command economies of the Soviet Union and East Germany--and their domination by professional elites, notably state bureaucrats and corporate executives.
Perkins highlights their extraordinary achievements--the highest living standards and the longest, healthiest, most rewarding lives in human history--but warns of the self-destructive greed and corruption which threaten the future of us all.