Resumo de The Edwardians - Roy Hattersley

Much has been written about the Victorian era in British history and almost as much about the horrors of the First World War in Europe 13 years after Victoria's death. But the intervening period is comparatively neglected. Prolific author, journalist and former top British politician Roy Hattersley has done much to fill that gap with his book The Edwardians.He divides his 520-page book into five sections, each entitled from a famous quotation of the time. As an example, the first section entitled "Anxieties for England" uses a quote from a commentator who feared the implications of the new regime.After a prologue, the first section sets the scene politically and explains how the monarchy operated during Edward's reign. It discusses Victoria's funeral and includes comments on the events by famous writers of the period including Bernard Shaw and Henry James. The character of Edward VII is discussed, including the growing number of scandals surrounding him and the constant questions about what kind of monarch he would be. There are details about the country?s ruling imperial oligarchy and mention leading politicians of the day including Balfour, Curzon, Joseph Chamberlain, Campbell-Bannerman, Asquith and Churchill. A chapter reviews the social conditions of the country, its social classes and their health, entrepreneurs, industrialists and economists along with its industry, commerce and agriculture. Part two - "Enough of this Tomfoolery" - takes its title from a description of the old-fashioned theatrical style of parliamentary debate.The Boer War between Britain and South Africa is discussed in the first chapter. A second chapter discusses Britain's relationship with the rest of its empire. There is a particular emphasis on the trading relations between the nations within it. The section also covers changes in social welfare which later in the century would lead to the creation of the so-called welfare state. There are also accounts of the development of employment exchanges, laws against poor wages and conditions and of the state of crime, punishment, law and order.A subsequent chapter centres on debates over the future of the non-elected second house of the British parliament, the House of Lords.Increasing social unrest within Britain forms much of Part Three, called "The Force Majeure which Activates and Arms" which is a quote regarding the increasing militancy in the campaign for women?s' suffrage.There is the story of the often violent campaign for home rule in Ireland as the Irish struggled either to fight off or retain the British yoke. The long and ultimately successful campaigns to give women the vote in Britain is discussed and the story is told of the Pankhurst family, the "suffragette" organisations set up to lead the campaign and the subsequent rows about the family's involvement and their power and influence over the campaign.There was a growing trade union movement. Beginning with the Taff Vale Judgement, which dealt with an unfair dismissal case in South Wales, the chapter details the development of the trades unions and the growth alongside of Britain's newest political party, Labour.Britain's state education service received many a boost at this time and the book discusses the setting up of government-provided mass education. New universities to rival Oxford and Cambridge were established.The arts and sport form the focus of part four "Everybody got down off their stilts" which is entitled from a quote by Irish writer WB Yeats about increasing social realism in the arts in general.The gradual move away from the safe and saccharine normality of so called "drawing-room drama" forms the focus of the first chapter.The next chapter features the transformation of the somewhat idealised image of England seen in some books up to then into a more realistic image. Football was just beginning to grow as Britain's major sport along with cricket and boxing. In music, Elgar ruled the roost. Other great musicians anrs also included Holst and Grainger. The book also deals with art and architecture. Lutyens was one of the leading architects and built country houses and government buildings. New cathedrals, including the first new Catholic Cathedral for centuries, were built along with the first ever garden suburb newtowns. In art the Bloomsbury group and Camden Town group were influential. Liberal intellectual Masterman provides the title for the fifth and last section "Full of Energy and Purpose".It follows the debate between science and religion as the former gained power and the latter struggled in a new world of scientific and philosophic knowledge. Economist Maynard Keynes, philosopher Russell and atom-splitting scientist Rutherford are discussedThe story is told of explorers Shackleton and Scott in Antarctica and Younghusband in Tibet. It tells that such adventurers were among the heroes of the age, despite the failure of Scott in his expedition to the South Pole.The Edwardian period saw the rise of what we now know as tabloid journalism. A chapter discusses the great names who influenced journalism including Newnes, Harmsworth and Aitken.Transport technology is examined including the story of Mr Rolls and Mr Royce, among others, and the rising interest in airplanes. On the water, the first turbine ship made its appearance and the greatest luxury liner in history - the ill-fated Titanic."The Summer Ends in August" takes the story to the summer of 1914 and the outbreak of war. The book has an extensive bibliography.

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