Customer Reviews

Fabians

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_The Fabians_, by Norman and Jeanne Mackenzie is the classic in the literature - a full review of the history of this initially small band of middle class intellectual socialists, the Mackenie's are undaunted in tackling what becomes a full and multi-character biography of the group that became and remains influential in British politics. This study includes a full and sensitive account of the lives and thought of the Webbs (usefully exploring their differences as well as their points of agreement), Shaw, Pease and Podmore, and even H.G. Wells, amongst others, as well as the history of the relationship of this band with the diverse groups and individuals in the broader British socialist movement - and their ambivalent relationships with the liberal and then the labour governments.

This work is a study in how multi-character biography might be carried out successfully - In short, if one was to begin one's study of British socialism, this would be an admirable place to start!

Drawbacks? Of course, there are some. But be fair, this is a book about the Fabians, and so those who are looking to see a full and clear representation of William Morris, of Henry Hyndman and the Social Democratic Federation, or the ILP, or other - and arguably much more significant elements of British socialism - must look elsewhere, (my own beef is that Wells gets such a short look in - but to be fair the authors did pen another whole volume on Wells, so I can hardly complain). Even so, one cannot understand British socialism without understanding the Fabians, and I do not think I am inaccurate in saying that one cannot understand the Fabians without having taken account, at least, of this book.