Jay Winter's introduction to the work in honour of Henry Pelling points to a shift that has been taking place in the writing of labour history - from concentration on militant strivings towards interest in the ordinary existence of working men and women. The first approach was pioneered by a number of Marxist scholars. Marxism has always been drawn to the more active phases of history, and its volcanic eruptions, the moments of revolution. But most of history has been far more static, even regressive, for reasons among which human nature must rank high, or what Peter Clarke in a scrutiny in this volume of the British 'social-democratic' tradition calls the 'deadweight of social conservatism, in all classes'. Part One of the collection, though entitled 'The Working Class in British Politics', shows it in mainly passive roles - acted on, by its leaders or misleaders, more often than it acted. Part Two, 'The Working Class in British Society', is more faithful to its title.

LRB 4 August 1983 | PDF Download