The Industrial Revolution, 1760-1830 (OPUS) [Paperback]

T. S. Ashton (Author), Pat Hudson (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0192892894 | ISBN-13: 978-0192892898 | Edition: 0002-

The Industrial Revolution has sometimes been regarded as a catastrophe which desecrated the English landscape and brought social oppression and appalling physical hardship to the workers. In Ashton's classic account, however, it is presented as an important and beneficial mark of progress. In spite of destructive wars and a rapid growth of population, the material living standards of most of the British people improved, and the technical innovations not only brought economic rewards but also provoked greater intellectual ingenuity. Lucidly argued and authoritative, this book places the phenomenon of the Industrial Revolution in a stimulating perspective. A new preface by Pat Hudson surveys recent research in the areas focused on by Ashton and a completely updated bibliography ensures that this book will continue to be of value to modern readers for many years to come.

Editorial Reviews

Review

?It is certainly rare . . . to find, as in Professor Ashton's work, a combination of neatly summarized research, lively humanity, stimulating generalization, bread-and-butter fact, and an unfailing sense of perspective, all embodied in prose of unmistakable, though entirely unpretentious, quality. It is a pleasure to be able to recommend a book, whether to the student or to the general reader, so entirely without reservation. . . . Few accounts of the great inventions leave the unmechanical reader with any genuine understanding of the problems and solutions involved. This one does.?-The Economist --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

T. S. Ashton was Professor of Economic History at the University of London from 1944 to 1954, and Emeritus Professor until his death in 1968. Pat Hudson is Professor Economic and Social History at the University of Liverpool.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 0002- edition (January 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192892894
• ISBN-13: 978-0192892898
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.5 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #410,289 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A solid, no-nonsense book about an important subject October 12, 1999

By Robert S. Newman VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

First published in 1948, this book has gone through many editions, the latest, as we can see here, put out in 1998. I recently read the 1964 edition, picked up long ago at a booksale in Melbourne, Australia. Ashton's work is probably timeless. It is a down-to-earth, very well reasoned history of the various historical tendencies and phenomena that together are called "the industrial revolution". I cannot vouch for this volume being absolutely correct. The author does not have much time for those who dwell on the evils of industrialization, or who want to include class struggle in their analysis. Though I was not fully convinced of this, still I was willing to listen. Not being an expert in the field, I was looking for a decent explanation or summary of the whole process. I definitely got my money's worth in Ashton's book. It is well-written, without jargon and without presumption of vast historical knowledge on the part of the reader. It gives you an overview of such various fields as population growth, early forms of industry in England, the technical innovations, capital, banking, labor unions, conditions of workers, industrialists' clubs, and relation of agriculture to industry. Though I found the part about banks and interest rather rough going, it was entirely due to my own poor understanding of the field. My edition could have used a map. The shires, the rivers, and the many towns of England are not all imprinted firmly in the brains of North Americans. Other than that, I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their understanding of the Industrial Revolution.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars simply delightful to read as well as a thorough resource December 3, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I can't believe I'm the first to write about this. I bought this a few years back while a graduate student in modern European history. My focus was primarily industrialization. This book is a joy. Ashton provides a thorough picture of the Revolution from several perspectives. He describes how events and developments built upon each other and how the innovators fed each others efforts. Most importantly, Ashton is a terrific writer. Other books on this and like topics can be as dry as the Sahara. Ashton is engaging and witty. This is not a book that requires a terrifically large committment. Even if you are not a student but simply interested in the topic, please read this.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great History June 10, 2009

By Thomas Grover VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you are looking for a well written and concise history of the Industrial Revolution then this book is for you. It provides a decent overview but little detail or analysis.