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Profile Books Little Englanders Britain in the Edwardian Era.
When Queen Victoria died in 1901 it was the end of an era. Many later remembered the era that followed as the long afternoon of an empire where the sun never set. Yet the Edwardians knew the country was in a state of flux; the seismic change that they felt would transform modern Britain forever.
In Little Englanders, Alwyn Turner reconsiders the Edwardian era as a time of profound social change, bringing their history alive through music halls and male beauty contests, the 1908 Summer Olympics and the real Peaky Blinders. In this colourful, detailed and hugely entertaining social history, Turner shows that, though the golden Victorian age was in the past, the birth of modern Britain was only just beginning.
In Little Englanders, Alwyn Turner reconsiders the Edwardian era as a time of profound social change, bringing their history alive through music halls and male beauty contests, the 1908 Summer Olympics and the real Peaky Blinders. In this colourful, detailed and hugely entertaining social history, Turner shows that, though the golden Victorian age was in the past, the birth of modern Britain was only just beginning.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 4, 2024
This non-fiction offered what I had hoped for, namely, the panorama of the years between Queen Victoria's death and the outbreak of WW1 focusing on social history, ordinary people, and with a limited dive into politics. A wide range of topics is covered, from musicals, attitudes towards so-called aliens (even my hometown is mentioned as the birthplace of one of the immigrants) to suffragettes' strife, and many, many more. The book focuses on ordinary men and women instead of aristocracy or upper-class, which is what gives it the feel of the period as little Englanders made Great Britain. I believe this book is a perfect choice for anyone who would like to receive insight into those days without knowing about them too much.
*A big thank-you to Alwyn Turner, Profile Books Audio, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
*A big thank-you to Alwyn Turner, Profile Books Audio, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
August 17, 2024
The Edwardian era lasted little more than a decade and, rather confusingly, Edward VII himself died four years before it ended. Alwyn Turner makes a convincing case, nonetheless, that it was a time of considerable change - a busy transitional period between the old world and the new. As in his previous books about late-twentieth century Britain, Turner is keen to show how the events and concerns of the time were reflected in popular culture, so we get a great deal about the music hall, the rise of the popular press, cinema, children’s comics, and the popular novelists and playwrights of the day. One of the things that struck me is that the distinction between ‘literary’ and ‘popular’ fiction had yet to be created (modernism hadn’t quite got going), so you had writers like H. G. Wells and G. K. Chesterton producing novels that were both serious and entertaining, and read by a large audience.
The past may well be a foreign country but, in many respects, Edwardian England seems remarkably like the current model. There was the death of the then longest-reigning monarch in history and her succession by a son who was, as Turner says of Edward, ‘a very different proposition’; a division between those who thought Britain should play a role in the wider world beyond the Empire, particularly in Europe, and the insular little Englanders of the title; widespread concern about immigration; political and social unrest; serious rioting on the streets; panics about the morally deleterious effects of new technology (What the Butler Saw machines were all the rage); the spectacular fall in 1906 of a long-serving and tired Conservative Government beset by splits and divisions. There was even a Labour Party leader called Keir. The parallels with the present pile up remorselessly throughout the book, but Turner allows the reader to make the connections.
He’s particularly good with the biographical vignette which is emblematic of the period - the roguish yet very popular politician Horatio Bottomley, and the strange case of the tragic heiress Violet Charlesworth. This is excellent popular history - wide-ranging, insightful, and fun to read.
The past may well be a foreign country but, in many respects, Edwardian England seems remarkably like the current model. There was the death of the then longest-reigning monarch in history and her succession by a son who was, as Turner says of Edward, ‘a very different proposition’; a division between those who thought Britain should play a role in the wider world beyond the Empire, particularly in Europe, and the insular little Englanders of the title; widespread concern about immigration; political and social unrest; serious rioting on the streets; panics about the morally deleterious effects of new technology (What the Butler Saw machines were all the rage); the spectacular fall in 1906 of a long-serving and tired Conservative Government beset by splits and divisions. There was even a Labour Party leader called Keir. The parallels with the present pile up remorselessly throughout the book, but Turner allows the reader to make the connections.
He’s particularly good with the biographical vignette which is emblematic of the period - the roguish yet very popular politician Horatio Bottomley, and the strange case of the tragic heiress Violet Charlesworth. This is excellent popular history - wide-ranging, insightful, and fun to read.
December 26, 2024
This isn't a bad book, though I will shelve it as one, it just isn't very interesting if you have read any real history of the UK in the early 20th century. This is a book about England and the rest of the UK, its Celtic fringe, is almost completely ignored. When statistics are given for the huge increase in the population, during the reign of Queen Victoria, of the various parts of the United Kingdom Ireland is not mentioned, it was a part of the UK during that period but its population decreased by millions. A complication and this book isn't about complications. So Ireland, like the explanation for its missing population growth, is almost completely absent. Certainly it is not really part of the Edwardian England Alwyn Turner writes about because he is searching to find what reflects England today and England today, even England's politicians, have no interest in Ireland.
Looking into the past for a reflection is possibly one of the more stupid things you can do. I find it impossible to explain that barely more than twenty years ago people used payphones, not mobile phones, and, well you get the idea. The past may not only be a different country but it is not simply today in funny clothes. To see it that way is to miss the important differences and how we have changed.
Still I am not the audience for this book. If you think you are you will probably enjoy it. But if you actually like history that isn't sugar christmas soporific then I advise to steer clear of it and probably the rest of Mr. Turner's oeuvre.
Looking into the past for a reflection is possibly one of the more stupid things you can do. I find it impossible to explain that barely more than twenty years ago people used payphones, not mobile phones, and, well you get the idea. The past may not only be a different country but it is not simply today in funny clothes. To see it that way is to miss the important differences and how we have changed.
Still I am not the audience for this book. If you think you are you will probably enjoy it. But if you actually like history that isn't sugar christmas soporific then I advise to steer clear of it and probably the rest of Mr. Turner's oeuvre.
April 28, 2024
In a brief but eventful time, from the years 1901 to 1914, Britain was living in the period known as the Edwardian Age. Named after the son and successor of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, it can be remarked that the Edwardians were not very different from us today.
In this greatly amusing and witty reflection of the years between Queen Victoria's death and the outbreak of the Great War, Alwyn Turner explores all from social history, gender and class roles, politics, immigration, suffragism, culture, crime, the Royal Family, war and so much more.
Turner leads us through this Era in a conversational tone, reminiscent of a friendly discussion, as we learn of the inevitable parallels to the modern world through how people experienced the rise of the media and press, the changing of technology and the ever constant conflict within politics, just to name a few, that helped to shape their world.
While many people looked back to the "good old days" of the 19th century where everything possible was done to accumulate vast wealth through colonies, war and harsh class separation, it could be argued that there was a sense of duty to the Edwardians of the early 20th century as they worked to use this wealth and distribute it in an evenly way.
The author manages to cover so much information in this vastly engaging book that I have barely touched the surface of, proving that the Edwardians were equally as interesting as their predecessors. Readers of history will not want to pass up on this one.
Thank you to @profile.books for sending me this fascinating book to review.
In this greatly amusing and witty reflection of the years between Queen Victoria's death and the outbreak of the Great War, Alwyn Turner explores all from social history, gender and class roles, politics, immigration, suffragism, culture, crime, the Royal Family, war and so much more.
Turner leads us through this Era in a conversational tone, reminiscent of a friendly discussion, as we learn of the inevitable parallels to the modern world through how people experienced the rise of the media and press, the changing of technology and the ever constant conflict within politics, just to name a few, that helped to shape their world.
While many people looked back to the "good old days" of the 19th century where everything possible was done to accumulate vast wealth through colonies, war and harsh class separation, it could be argued that there was a sense of duty to the Edwardians of the early 20th century as they worked to use this wealth and distribute it in an evenly way.
The author manages to cover so much information in this vastly engaging book that I have barely touched the surface of, proving that the Edwardians were equally as interesting as their predecessors. Readers of history will not want to pass up on this one.
Thank you to @profile.books for sending me this fascinating book to review.
March 16, 2024
I really enjoy this look at a period of our history that I don’t know much about. The Edwardian Era seems to get brushed over when we look back at important events in our past.
This book manages to pack a lot of information in without being overwhelming, keeping it interesting and fun.
A great social and political history covering everything from musical halls, minstrel shows, royal family, the suffrage movement, crime, sporting events, wars and political upheaval.
A really interesting and enjoyable book.
This book manages to pack a lot of information in without being overwhelming, keeping it interesting and fun.
A great social and political history covering everything from musical halls, minstrel shows, royal family, the suffrage movement, crime, sporting events, wars and political upheaval.
A really interesting and enjoyable book.
April 27, 2024
Alwyn Turner - author of excellent books about decades from the 1970s to the noughties switches periods to cover another decade ( roughly) by examining the Edwardians and comes up trumps again delivering his ideas in a hugely entertaining trawl through his thematic choices to encompass all aspects of Edwardian life.
Each chapter has a theme ( money and music hall; home and abroad etc) and the book is bookended by an intro covering the death of Wilde and Victoria and an outro covering the Crippen case and the Brides in the bath murders.
Turner weaves in thoughts and analysis with a light touch and hints at relevant parallels with now - fears about immigration; the fight for women’s rights and Britains role in the world. He often focuses on personal stories including well known personalities and characters and has used examples from local reporting as a basis for research.Occasionally he leaves loose ends - Victor Grayson MP is discussed but his mysterious disappearance is omitted. The bibliography lists primary sources but annoyingly secondary sources are just left to be sought out in the notes. Apart from a stunning cover photo ( not credited or contextualised) the book has limited pictures ( money saving??) - increasingly the cost of including is prohibitive I know but a shame all the same. However this is a thoughtful, discursive book with all the usual wit and intelligence expected from this author. Recommend
Each chapter has a theme ( money and music hall; home and abroad etc) and the book is bookended by an intro covering the death of Wilde and Victoria and an outro covering the Crippen case and the Brides in the bath murders.
Turner weaves in thoughts and analysis with a light touch and hints at relevant parallels with now - fears about immigration; the fight for women’s rights and Britains role in the world. He often focuses on personal stories including well known personalities and characters and has used examples from local reporting as a basis for research.Occasionally he leaves loose ends - Victor Grayson MP is discussed but his mysterious disappearance is omitted. The bibliography lists primary sources but annoyingly secondary sources are just left to be sought out in the notes. Apart from a stunning cover photo ( not credited or contextualised) the book has limited pictures ( money saving??) - increasingly the cost of including is prohibitive I know but a shame all the same. However this is a thoughtful, discursive book with all the usual wit and intelligence expected from this author. Recommend
October 9, 2025
They say history rhymes. A fear of national incompetence and decline, the march of new technology, industrial disputes, fears of international competition, and the worship of money. All could describe the 2020s, but they are as likely to be found in Edwardian Britain. Having decided to return later to his A Classless Society, I dived into Alwyn Turner’s Little Englanders, which was another assured excavation of cultural and political history. While perhaps not as comprehensive as his ‘70s and ‘80s volumes, this is still a rip-roaring ride with discussions of obscure and well-known cultural artefacts which are a barometer of the national mood.
Turner again settles on a great historical approach which will delight any cultural historians or the curious reader (“the administrators of Empire feature less than the headliners at the Empire, Leicester Square”). As such, he is keen on the anecdote, which throws up some bizarre tales and a kaleidoscope of characters, from Horatio Bottomley MP to John Trundley (‘The Fat Boy of Peckham’). Several themes emerge: a democratic impulse (seen in the 1906 Liberal election as well as, to an extent, the rise of a more demotic if elite-owned popular press); the sense of apocalyptic crisis (which pays dividends in the approach to the invasion literature of 1913); an ‘ungovernability’ crisis of labour, gender relations, and national relations (especially concerning Ireland and the Conservative paramilitary opposition to the state); the role of anarchists and the reaction to ‘aliens’ in ways which foreshadow today’s contemporary politics; the retreat into the past for reassurance as well as commentary (consider pageantry versus the recurrence of the god Pan); the growth of new technology and fears of cultural contamination (c.f. ragtime and, in response to increased immigration, the 1904 Aliens Bill) versus the persistence of poverty. All of these themes play their part in the book. It is at times a startlingly familiar story: the fallout from the death of a long-reigning monarch; the reaction to an unpopular war; political divisions over welfare; the influence of a salacious popular press; a complicated relationship with Europe; or, more inchoately, “a growing sense of insecurity and instability, a vulnerability, a fear that the nation stood on the brink of a precipice”. We even have a Labour leader named Keir. It is a fantastic introduction to the period from a cultural perspective. While perhaps lighter on political history than some may want, it’s hard to come away from it with anything but a sense of the temperature of the nation just before the First World War.
Turner again settles on a great historical approach which will delight any cultural historians or the curious reader (“the administrators of Empire feature less than the headliners at the Empire, Leicester Square”). As such, he is keen on the anecdote, which throws up some bizarre tales and a kaleidoscope of characters, from Horatio Bottomley MP to John Trundley (‘The Fat Boy of Peckham’). Several themes emerge: a democratic impulse (seen in the 1906 Liberal election as well as, to an extent, the rise of a more demotic if elite-owned popular press); the sense of apocalyptic crisis (which pays dividends in the approach to the invasion literature of 1913); an ‘ungovernability’ crisis of labour, gender relations, and national relations (especially concerning Ireland and the Conservative paramilitary opposition to the state); the role of anarchists and the reaction to ‘aliens’ in ways which foreshadow today’s contemporary politics; the retreat into the past for reassurance as well as commentary (consider pageantry versus the recurrence of the god Pan); the growth of new technology and fears of cultural contamination (c.f. ragtime and, in response to increased immigration, the 1904 Aliens Bill) versus the persistence of poverty. All of these themes play their part in the book. It is at times a startlingly familiar story: the fallout from the death of a long-reigning monarch; the reaction to an unpopular war; political divisions over welfare; the influence of a salacious popular press; a complicated relationship with Europe; or, more inchoately, “a growing sense of insecurity and instability, a vulnerability, a fear that the nation stood on the brink of a precipice”. We even have a Labour leader named Keir. It is a fantastic introduction to the period from a cultural perspective. While perhaps lighter on political history than some may want, it’s hard to come away from it with anything but a sense of the temperature of the nation just before the First World War.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2024
Little Englanders is a history of the Edwardian age, the start of the 20th century in Britain, and is a hugely interesting and entertaining study of an era we often tend to overlook. There is an emphasis on social history as a way of reflecting how people experienced the time - music halls acts and songs crop up frequently as a barometer of how people see events, the growth of new papers such as the Daily Mail and its immediate success, all of these are fascinating glimpses alongside more traditional coverage of the politics of the time. Many of the concerns people feel are familiar to us today - new technology, immigration, social welfare and unrest to name a few - and it's both interesting and worrying to see where all these things led 100 years ago. There's a great deal of research in the book but it's all written at a very lively pace and very entertaining (I listened to the audio version and the narration was also excellent). Hugely enjoyable.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
July 27, 2025
4.5/5 going to be generous and round up to 5/5
Really good social history of Britain in the Edwardian era just before WWI. The book is very good at using the entertainment of the time (books, music halls, comedy) to explain people's values and beliefs at the time on serious topics like race, empire, women's suffrage etc. Overall the author does a good job of describing the British public at the time as inward looking (despite having an empire people didn't really know that much about it or care about what was going on in it) and undercurrent of being worried about decline and loss of British culture in a globalising world.
Only addition I would have liked was a further reading list of books for each topic, since most of the sources are newspapers or fiction from the time.
Really good social history of Britain in the Edwardian era just before WWI. The book is very good at using the entertainment of the time (books, music halls, comedy) to explain people's values and beliefs at the time on serious topics like race, empire, women's suffrage etc. Overall the author does a good job of describing the British public at the time as inward looking (despite having an empire people didn't really know that much about it or care about what was going on in it) and undercurrent of being worried about decline and loss of British culture in a globalising world.
Only addition I would have liked was a further reading list of books for each topic, since most of the sources are newspapers or fiction from the time.
February 27, 2024
This is a fun and informative view of a much discussed period in British history: the years 1901 to 1914, generally characterised as "Edwardian", although the titular monarch died in 1910. Many books have focused on the high politics and the constitutional turbulence. This one mentions these things but prefers to go in at a lower level and talk about the social aspects. There are some surprising and entertaining discussions e.g. about male beauty contests and the development of music halls. Overall you get a refreshingly different view of the period from that of floppy haired youths of Merchant Ivory films. Written in a breezy and uncomplicated style, this book is thoroughly recommended.
December 26, 2025
An engaging and enlightening history of Edwardian popular culture and the social history of the times. I enjoyed the focus on music hall songs and popular novels of the early 20th century - this music and writing was well known at the time but only a few of these cultural artifacts (such as the novels of HG Wells) are still enjoyed today. There are parallels between Edwardian England and 21st century England that come to light in the text including the complicated relationship between England and the rest of Europe. Highly recommended.
January 30, 2026
A very entertaining social and cultural history of Britain between the death of Queen Victoria and the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. Turner paints with a very colourful palate the preoccupations of a Britain transitioning into a new century.
The death of a long-reigning monarch, anxieties about decline, fights over immigration, terrorism, tariffs, the nature of patriotism, the disruption of a two-party paradigm; many parallels suggest themselves but none are clumsily invoked by the author, they are left to be picked up by the reader.
The death of a long-reigning monarch, anxieties about decline, fights over immigration, terrorism, tariffs, the nature of patriotism, the disruption of a two-party paradigm; many parallels suggest themselves but none are clumsily invoked by the author, they are left to be picked up by the reader.
February 2, 2024
I love social history books and this one is a very good one as it analyse the different aspect of the social life during the Edwardian time. From entertainment to sports the different aspects of the society are described and the author did an excellent job in making this history book entertaining and intriguing.
Well written and researched, I appreciated the storytelling and the voice of the narrator
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Well written and researched, I appreciated the storytelling and the voice of the narrator
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
June 17, 2025
interesting and entertaining.
I have always been interested in the Edwardian period, so this was required reading for me. I liked the deep research and detail, which is expressed in an interesting, compelling way. I particularly enjoyed the connections made to popular culture which promoted thought and reflection of the period much more than I had thought before reading this book.
I have always been interested in the Edwardian period, so this was required reading for me. I liked the deep research and detail, which is expressed in an interesting, compelling way. I particularly enjoyed the connections made to popular culture which promoted thought and reflection of the period much more than I had thought before reading this book.
May 17, 2024
Hmmm. This was a bit of a slog and took me nearly 2 months to listen to tbh. Soooo much music hall and disappointed that there was no direct mention of the run up to the war. So much work has gone into this and the research was clearly meticulous but it just wasn’t what I was expecting for some reason. I ploughed thought but I’m looking forward to a new audiobook for car journeys that’s for sure!
June 6, 2025
Very impressive work depicting various aspects of life in Britain between the death of Queen Victoria and the outbreak of WW1.
The author is fair, balanced and is able to convey not only a great deal of factual information about the period, but also a sense of the mood of the time.
Would certainly recommend this to others.
The author is fair, balanced and is able to convey not only a great deal of factual information about the period, but also a sense of the mood of the time.
Would certainly recommend this to others.
March 27, 2024
Always interesting to read more about the Edwardians. This definitely focussed more on the culture, but I'm not sure exactly what it was trying to say. It was disjointed and not comprehensive.
August 20, 2024
Surprisingly uninvolving
December 13, 2024
Was a bit boring - ended up not finishing it.
December 28, 2024
A sprawling social history some of it interesting and engaging and some of it less so.
March 9, 2025
Superb book that has taught me a lot.
April 2, 2025
I thought the book was well written and informative and interesting
December 26, 2025
Very readable, although the structure got a little repetitive for me. Final chapter feels like a very odd and abrupt way to end the book!
November 11, 2024
Excellent. Full of facts and a perspective on the Edwardian age that is becoming lost in the mists of time.
September 22, 2024
This was a really interesting book on the social history of the Edwardian era. I knew very little about this period and it was fascinating to learn about the culture and attitudes pre World War I.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this audio book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this audio book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews