Book 1

This book deals with the years 1881 to 1951 when socialism in Britain moved from being a small movement led by the Social Democratic Federation to a powerful organisation which reached its apogee in the Attlee administrations. During this period British socialism became moderate and parliamentary in form, discarding Marxism and ethical socialism en route. Keith Laybourn examines the SDE the Independent Labour Party, the Labour Party and the Communist Party of Great Britain as well as the role of women within the emergent Labour and socialist movements, and the importance of socialist Sunday schools, ILP clubs, and the Labour Church movement.