Synopses & Reviews
The first comprehensive history of consumerism as an organized social and political movement, this book explores consumer movements, ideologies and organizations in twentieth-century Britain. It explores the history of organizations such as the Co-operative movement and the Consumers' Association and analyzes the role of the National Consumer Council, the Office of Fair Trading, and international consumer organizations as well as the growth of ethical consumerism. A major contribution to the topic of the role of consumption in modern society, it will be essential reading for historians of twentieth-century Britain.
Review
'\"An impressive tour-de-force...due to the meticulously prepared index and the immensely well researched bibliography, the outcome is a book that not only makes a compelling argument but can be used as a handbook for everyone researching nineteenth- and twentieth-century consumer culture.\" H-Soz u Kult\"Hilton\'s broad coverage of events is remarkable, as the author adroitly bridges the realms of politics, economics, society, and culture in his examination of consumer politics. The depth of Hilton\'s research is impressive...\" History'
Review
"This is a hugely impressive study." EH.NET, Lawrence Black, Department of History, University of Durham, UK"Moving beyond moral condemnation andclass, Hilton provides a meticulously researched analysis of twentieth-century consumerism that should appeal to the specialist and to those interested in British politics, broadly defined." Albion, Lori Loeb
Synopsis
This is the first comprehensive history of consumerism as an organised social and political movement. It explores the history of consumer organisations in twentieth-century Britain and makes a major contribution to an expanding inter-disciplinary discussion of the role of consumption in modern society.
Synopsis
This is the first comprehensive history of consumer movements, ideologies and organisations in twentieth-century Britain.
About the Author
Matthew Hilton is Lecturer in Modern British History at the University of Birmingham and the author of Smoking in British Popular Culture, 1800-2000 (2000).
Table of Contents
Introduction: luxury's shadow; Part I. Necessity: 1. Socialism, cooperation, free trade and fair trade: the politics of consumption in the nineteenth century; 2. Revolutionary shoppers: the Consumers' Council and scarcity in World War I; 3. The right to live: consumer 'ideology' in inter-war Britain; 4. The price of depression: consumer politics after World War I; 5. Austerity to affluence: the twilight of the politics of necessity; Part II. Affluence: 6. The new consumer: good housewives and enlightened businessmen; 7. The professionals: the origins of the organised consumer movement; 8. Individualism enshrined: the state and the consumer in the 1960s; 9. The right to shop: consumerism and the economy; 10. The duty of citizens: consumerism and society; 11. Affluence or effluence: globalisation and ethical consumerism; Conclusion: the quantity or the quality of choice.