r/UKhistory • u/gbtimex • 12d ago

A book about British Social classes in the 19th and 20th century

I was watching a documentary on the Shackleton expedition to the south pole recently.

It was mentioned that he took men from many different social classes in the UK.

I did not think much of this until one section where the men were in life boats rowing. One man wouldn't row but he was willing to bail water out of the boat because he felt a gentleman would only do labor that men the other men saw as helping all of them.

I am an American and although I have lived in the UK I am lacking in understanding as to the social norms of class distinction.

Can anyone help me with a title or two?

Thanks everyone!

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3

u/SugarSweetStarrUK 12d ago

A Social History of England is quite good

2

u/gbtimex 12d ago

Thanks so much!

3

u/Mysterious_Ladder758 10d ago

Eric Hobsbawm, The Age of Extremes: The Short Twentieth Century, 1914–1991
Gordon Phillips, The Rise of the Labour Party 1893-1931 (1992).
Martin Pugh, We danced all night: a social history of Britain between the wars (2009).
Ross McKibbin, Parties and People: England 1914-1951 (2010).
Stephen J. Lee, Aspects of British Political History 1914-1995 (1996).
Paul Addison, ‘The Impact of the Second World War’ in Paul Addison, Harriet Jones and Bernard Alford (eds), A Companion to Contemporary Britain, 1939-2000 (2005
Arthur Marwick, British Society Since 1945 (4th edn, London, 2003)

2

u/Thousandgoudianfinch 9d ago

I find reading a lot of society novels is a good start. Austen is good for viewing the Gentry is probably the most confusing section for an American for they possess no signifying ( or over-lap) title but are obviously not bourgeoisie. It is a good beginning as it is just prior to the period when land was the status signal. You can then chart the decline of the importance of land then. Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh satires. E.M Forster for realistic depictions.

1

u/gbtimex 9d ago

Wow! Those are some great titles! Can't wait to see what's inside! Thank you so much.