What do you think?
Labour Revolt in Britain 1910-14
New insights into one of the most important episodes in British labour history
The Labour Revolt that swept Britain in the early 20th century was one of the most sustained, dramatic and violent explosions of industrial militancy and social conflict the country has ever experienced. It involved large-scale strikes by miners, seamen, dockers, railway workers and many others, and was dominated by unskilled and semi-skilled workers, many acting independently of trade-union officials. Amidst this powerful grassroots energy, the country saw widespread solidarity action, phenomenal union membership growth, breakthroughs in both industrial unionism and women’s union organisation, and a dramatic increase in the collective power of the working-class movement. It heralded political radicalisation that celebrated direct action and challenged head-on the Liberal government and police and military, as well as parliamentary reformism of the Labour Party. Exploring the role of the radical left and the relationship between industrial struggles and political organisation, with new archival research and fresh insights and combining history from below and above, Ralph Darlington provides a multi-dimensional portrayal of the context, causes, actors, dynamics and contemporary significance of the Labour Revolt. Ralph Darlington is Emeritus Professor of Employment Relations at Salford University. His books include Glorious Summer and Radical Unionism . His research has been featured in national newspapers, and radio and television.
The Labour Revolt that swept Britain in the early 20th century was one of the most sustained, dramatic and violent explosions of industrial militancy and social conflict the country has ever experienced. It involved large-scale strikes by miners, seamen, dockers, railway workers and many others, and was dominated by unskilled and semi-skilled workers, many acting independently of trade-union officials. Amidst this powerful grassroots energy, the country saw widespread solidarity action, phenomenal union membership growth, breakthroughs in both industrial unionism and women’s union organisation, and a dramatic increase in the collective power of the working-class movement. It heralded political radicalisation that celebrated direct action and challenged head-on the Liberal government and police and military, as well as parliamentary reformism of the Labour Party. Exploring the role of the radical left and the relationship between industrial struggles and political organisation, with new archival research and fresh insights and combining history from below and above, Ralph Darlington provides a multi-dimensional portrayal of the context, causes, actors, dynamics and contemporary significance of the Labour Revolt. Ralph Darlington is Emeritus Professor of Employment Relations at Salford University. His books include Glorious Summer and Radical Unionism . His research has been featured in national newspapers, and radio and television.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
344 pages, Paperback
Published March 20, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 16, 2024
Exciting, informative and, for the most part, agreeable in its analysis of the labour revolt and revolutionary syndicalism.
Read
May 6, 2023Review from the May 2023 issue of the Socialist Standard:
https://socialiststandardmyspace.blog...
https://socialiststandardmyspace.blog...
February 21, 2026
The intersection of escalating civil unrest, and outright revolt, in Britain in the years 1910-1914, remains significantly under-examined. Darlington's survey takes us into the world of labour organising in this period to pull out what so terrified the ruling classes that they deployed troops on multiple occasions. The structure works very well as an introduction to the period, going from chronology, to indicative case studies, before concluding with general political and historical trends and tendencies.
My only frustration is the general lack of literature on this period. There is clearly much to learn about how working class people were able to so effectively overthrow not only the authority of the bosses, but also at an unprecedented scale the authority of their own trade union leaders.
Local histories are useful here, the Bristol Radical History Group has an excellent pamphlet on Bristol during the revolt, unfortunately there are not that many others to cite!
Worth reading, especially as a counter position to the histories of the General Strike that will do the rounds this year.
My only frustration is the general lack of literature on this period. There is clearly much to learn about how working class people were able to so effectively overthrow not only the authority of the bosses, but also at an unprecedented scale the authority of their own trade union leaders.
Local histories are useful here, the Bristol Radical History Group has an excellent pamphlet on Bristol during the revolt, unfortunately there are not that many others to cite!
Worth reading, especially as a counter position to the histories of the General Strike that will do the rounds this year.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews