The Strange Case of Tory Anarchism (Paperback)

Peter Wilkin

ISBN 10: 1907471103 / ISBN 13: 9781907471100

Published by Libri Publishing, Faringdon, 2010

About this Item

Paperback. What have Evelyn Waugh, George Orwell, Peter Cook,Spike Milligan and, more recently, Chris Morris got in common? They are all Tory anarchists which soundslike a contradiction in terms but Peter Wilkin explains why it is not.Surelyconservatism and anarchism are opposites? Tories respect and venerate traditionwhilst anarchists want to smash the system. And how can figures as politicallydistinct as George Orwell and Evelyn Waugh be similar? Part dandy, part fogey,part anti-establishment satirist, sometime nostalgist for lost empire, the Toryanarchist is a walking contradiction, with only his distrust of allpoliticians, ideologies and utopias to keep him together. From Cobbett andSwift through to Chris Morris, The Strange Case of Tory Anarchismexplores an awkward strain of good-old-fashioned Englishness that refuses toconform. Whathave Evelyn Waugh, George Orwell, Peter Cook, Spike Milligan and, more recently,Chris Morris got in common? They areall Tory anarchists which sounds like a contradiction in terms but PeterWilkin explains why it is not. Thisbook explores an awkward strain of good-old-fashioned Englishness thatrefuses to conform. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781907471100

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Strange Case of Tory Anarchism (Paperback)
• Publisher: Libri Publishing, Faringdon
• Publication Date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1907471103
• ISBN 13: 9781907471100
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

An examination of British culture, this remarkable account delves into George Orwell’s idea of a Tory Anarchist—someone who is concurrently a radical and a traditionalist. Filled with humorous extracts and quotes, this record explores—from Jonathan Swift to contemporary personalities—the definition of Orwell’s term, which is filled with contradictions: Tory anarchists celebrate Britain's class system but condemn all classes for their role in Britain's decline; they believe in the idiosyncratic qualities of the British while mocking their hypocrisy, stupidity, philistinism, and vulgarity. Well researched and extremely amusing, this meditation touches upon a variety of topics, including politics, literature, and social history.

About the Author

Peter Wilkin is a reader in social science at Brunel University in the U.K. His research has covered a range of topics, including global communication, the Brazilian Globo corporation, human security in Africa, and the work of Noam Chomsky.