Wild Words Newsletter
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A century past, a groundbreaking Labour government ascended to power. Discover the tale of the "Wild Men" who blazed this unprecedented trail...
Lauded as 'superb' by the New Statesman and 'fascinating' by The Sunday Times, this account delves into a pivotal moment in British political history. The 1923 Act granting universal male suffrage paved the way for a seismic shift in governance: the arrival of working-class men in the hallowed halls of Westminster.
Who were these pioneering 'wild men'? From Ramsay MacDonald, Labour's first Prime Minister and the illegitimate son of a Scottish farm labourer, to Arthur Henderson, a Scottish iron moulder, J. H. Thomas, a Welsh railwayman, John Wheatley, an Irish-born miner and publican, and William Adamson, a Fife coal miner - these were men of humble origins thrust into the highest echelons of power.
This new edition of The Wild Men, complete with an updated preface, chronicles the unexpected birth, tumultuous existence, and contentious fall of that first Labour administration. Through the eyes of those who found themselves suddenly at the helm of the nation, David Torrance weaves a compelling narrative that blends biography and history.
Torrance reassesses this watershed moment a century on, exploring how these working-class leaders shook the very foundations of a British establishment still reeling from the Great War - and how that establishment eventually rallied to reassert its influence.
This extraordinary chapter in British political history continues to resonate in our current political landscape, having laid the groundwork for the Britain we know today. A Waterstones Book of the Year 2024, this is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the forces that shaped modern British politics.
Book ISBN: | 9781399411479 |
Book Author: | David Torrance |
Book Format: | Paperback / softback |
Book Imprint: | Bloomsbury Continuum |
Book Publisher: | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
Book Dimensions: | 128 x 198 x 25 cm |
Book Publication Date: | 2025-01-16 |
Book Pagination: | 352 pages, 8 pages of black and white images |
Book Weight: | 266g |
Sherlock & Pages is a little bookshop with a big heart. We are based in Frome, Somerset, England and curate lists of books in the areas we are passionate about – landscape, nature, history, and heritage. In short, the conservation of all we’ve inherited and all we are responsible to pass on. We aim to inspire and be inspired, to form a literary culture of care and passion about this precious planet we call home.
This is a shop where you might find something you haven’t seen before, and we like to think we’ve got something for everyone. We choose each of our books with care and for a reason. This is because our physical store is small but beautifully formed, holding only around 1200 titles at any one time. We try and recreate the feel of the shop wherever we are online, to reflect our niche categories and personality.
We have an active social media presence and aim to share our story with all our friends. The long-term goal is to build a hub for the books and writers we believe in. Who knows where our adventure will lead but by supporting Sherlock & Pages you’re helping us to add a further layer of magic to our little corner of the world. If you haven’t visited our physical store, one day you might just make a literary pilgrimage down to Somerset.
Our tagline is ‘Long Live the Hedgerows’ and our symbol a hibernating dormouse. If you want to support an independent with a unique character and which will share stories with you for years to come, then choose Sherlock & Pages. The world needs bookshops with soul, for they are ‘citadels of light.’
Sherlock & Pages is a little bookshop with a big heart. We are based in Frome, Somerset, England and curate lists of books in the areas we are passionate about – landscape, nature, history, and heritage. In short, the conservation of all we’ve inherited and all we are responsible to pass on. We aim to inspire and be inspired, to form a literary culture of care and passion about this precious planet we call home.
This is a shop where you might find something you haven’t seen before, and we like to think we’ve got something for everyone. We choose each of our books with care and for a reason. This is because our physical store is small but beautifully formed, holding only around 1200 titles at any one time. We try and recreate the feel of the shop wherever we are online, to reflect our niche categories and personality.
We have an active social media presence and aim to share our story with all our friends. The long-term goal is to build a hub for the books and writers we believe in. Who knows where our adventure will lead but by supporting Sherlock & Pages you’re helping us to add a further layer of magic to our little corner of the world. If you haven’t visited our physical store, one day you might just make a literary pilgrimage down to Somerset.
Our tagline is ‘Long Live the Hedgerows’ and our symbol a hibernating dormouse. If you want to support an independent with a unique character and which will share stories with you for years to come, then choose Sherlock & Pages. The world needs bookshops with soul, for they are ‘citadels of light.’