Barrie Trinder, “Britain’s Industrial Revolution, the making of a manufactring people, 1700- 1870” ( Carnegie Publishing, London, 2012) £19.99
I can not claim to have read, let alone mastered this 676 page volume. But it seems to be so interesting and so important that I should mention it now, and perhaps return to it later, for a more detailed look ( although as always no promises in blogging)
For the present then, let me note three points about this remarkable book. Firstly Trinder’s treatment renders all previous popular accounts of the subject, for example that by T.S. Ashton obsolete.
Also important is the fact that Trinder includes Irish developments in his account. This grows out of the way in which he sees the growth of modern industry taking place within local and regional contexts.
This focus on the particular explains the way in which he more or less ignores general themes such as the impoverishment, or otherwise of the working class during the period in question. While he certainly does not fail to mention such exploitation as went on- and there was a good deal of it- he does not see it as being central to the very complicated, and fascinating story that he tells so well…
But as I say…perhaps more soon. In the meantime, buy this book! Strongly recomended.
