A Short History of the British Industrial Revolution

by Emma Griffin

This book explains why the Industrial Revolution remains a pivotal event in world history--the moment at which one small country succeeded in freeing the majority of its people from subsistence living. This succinct introduction explains what the Industrial Revolution was, when exactly it occurred and why it happened in Britain first.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Economics

208 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 2010

Reviews

[Emery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Griffin basically explores the major research about the Industrial Revolution, presenting it to the reader and then making a determination about its accuracy. So, instead of a history of the revolution, it’s closer to a historiography of Industrial Revolutionary scholarship. That being said, it’s a very detailed and comprehensive book. I learned a lot about the revolution through the examinations and affirmations or refutations of the scholarship. The book might be a “short history,” but it is a hard read that requires a lot of concentration. Especially if this is one’s first real introduction to the subject.

[Joshua Enns-Wind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great entry into the study of the Industrial Revolution. It wasn't too exhaustive and it leaves a lot of room to explore and discuss, but I think Emma Griffin accomplished what she set out to achieve.