Economy and Society in 19th Century Britain

In 1801 the population of Great Britain was 10.6 million; by 1901 it was 37.1 million. The national product in 1801 has been valued at 138,000,000; by 1901 it was 1,948,000,000. The rise per head was from 12.9 to 52.5 and, as these figures represent constant prices, the rise in material standards is evident, even allowing for the unequal distribution of socially created wealth. This book is a short, crisp survey of the major economic and social developments in nineteenth-century Britain. It combines a brief narrative history with a lucid and exciting synthesis of all the important problems and academic controversies. The chapters discuss economic growth, population - its growth, impact and movement - urbanisation and the housing problem, industry, agriculture, transport, overseas trade and foreign investment, life and labour, education, finance, the role of government, and the social structure. The text is extensively subdivided for easy reference, and is illustrated with numberous tables and diagrams. There is a full critical bibliography at the end of each chapter and a chronological table of events at the end of the book.