The Long Revolution - Softcover

Williams, Raymond

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140207627 ISBN 13: 9780140207620

Publisher: Pelican / Penguin Books, 1965

Synopsis

Raymond Williams was one of the world's leading cultural critics. With this book, Williams brilliantly documents the exciting birth of the popular press, and explores the growth of the reading public in English-speaking culture in Western Society. The 'Long Revolution' of the title is the third revolution of culture after the democratic revolution and the industrial revolution. Almost uniquely, William's work bridged the divides between aesthetic and socio-economic inquiry, between Marxist thought and mainstream liberal thought, and between the modern and post-modern world. Continuing the theme he began so successfully in Culture and Society, Williams examines the gradual change, which took over our political, economic, and cultural life. He placed special emphasis on the 'creative mind' in relation to social and cultural thinking. After discussing the theory of culture he turns to a fascinating historical study of such institutions as education and the press, traces the development of a common language, and reveals the links between ideas, literary forms, and social history.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

When 'The Long Revolution' first appeared in 1961, much of the acclaim it received was based on its prescriptions for Britain in the '60s, which form a relatively brief final section of the whole. The body of the book has since come to be recognized as one of the foundation documents in the cultural analysis of English-speaking culture. The "long revolution" of the title is a cultural revolution, which Williams sees as having unfolded alongside the democratic revolution and the industrial revolution.

With this book Williams led the way in recognizing the importance of the growth of the popular press, the growth of standard English, and the growth of the reading public in English-speaking culture and in Western culture as a whole. In addition, Williams' discussion of how culture is to be defined and analyzed has been of considerable importance in the development of cultural studies as an independent discipline.

About the Author

Raymond Williams, whose other works include 'Keywords', 'The Country and the City', 'Culture and Society', and 'Modern Tragedy', was one of the world's foremost cultural critics. Almost uniquely, his work bridged the divides between aesthetic and socio-economic inquiry, between Marxist thought and mainstream liberal thought, and between the modern and the post-modern world.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pelican / Penguin Books
• Publication date: 1965
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0140207627
• ISBN 13: 9780140207620
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400