Prudent Revolutionaries

This is the first major study of the personalities, achievements, and tactics of British feminist leaders between the wars. It brings out the breadth and scale of their activities, and explains their contribution towards broadening women's political, occupational, and family roles at home and abroad. Dr Harrison clarifies the organizational context and ancestry of inter-war feminism through creating a portrait gallery of sixteen prominent but very different feminists. Some (Lady Astor and Ellen Wilkinson, for example) are well-known, but are approached from a new angle; others, equally significant and interesting, are now almost forgotten. Overall, the book provides a composite portrait of the reforming personality, and illuminates the tactical and strategic dilemmas that face the reformer who aims to transform a hostile climate by working through democratic institutions. Drawing on interviews as well as a wide range of manuscript and other sources, "Prudent Revolutionaries" throws new light on the first generation of women to possess the vote in Britain. It makes a valuable contribution to the social and political history of Britain between the wars.

ISBN 0198201192   DEWEY edition DC19 ISBN13 9780198201199 (What's this?)   Pages 370 Publisher Oxford University Press   Volumes 1 Imprint Clarendon Press   Weight (grammes) 587 Format Hardback   Published in Oxford Publication date 19 Nov 1987   Height (mm) 216 Non-book description viii, 362 p. :   Width (mm) 138 Library of Congress HQ1595.A3   Spine width (mm) 25 DEWEY 305.420922   Academic level Professional / Scholarly

"The best single account of interwar feminism....A book of major importance which adds considerably to our understanding of feminism and of the political history of interwar Britain."--Albion"Thoughtful, detailed, and carefully argued....This important book will be essential to all subsequent studies of twentieth-century British feminism."--Oral History Review"Will fascinate anyone with a modicum of interest in human psychology, parliamentary and extraparliamentary political tactics, British history, or feminism....This is a remarkably successful, collective portrait of British feminist political activists and one that illuminates several areas of social and political history on the way."--Perspective"The first major work on British interwar feminism to appear in many years....The era is...a significant one, and Harrison makes a substantial contribution to its understanding."--Choice

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