The Enormous Condescension Of Posterity

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Breaking Class

20231208

Drawing on her own experiences of growing up in rural poverty, the writer Natasha Carthew explores the personal resonances and inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history.

Writer Natasha Carthew on the inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history.

Writer Natasha Carthew on the personal resonances and inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history.

Breaking Class

20231208

EP Thompson's landmark social history, The Making of the English Working Class, is a book that changed lives. In an academic world where history was primarily concerned with power and political reform, EP Thompson sought to rescue working people from, as he put it, 'the enormous condescension of posterity'.

Drawing on her own experiences of growing up in rural poverty, the writer Natasha Carthew explores the personal resonances and inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history.

Writer Natasha Carthew on the inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history.

Writer Natasha Carthew on the personal resonances and inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history.

On Reading The Making Of The English Working Class

20231204

The writer and historian Sheila Rowbotham first met Edward and Dorothy Thompson in 1962, a year before the publication of The Making of the English Working Class. In this essay, she remembers their catalytic influence on her own life and work – and the continuing relevance of the book she first read in proof form as a student.

Sheila Rowbotham is a historian of feminism and radical social movements. Her latest book is Daring to Hope: My Life in the 1970s.

Sheila Rowbotham remembers the catalytic influence of Edward and Dorothy Thompson.

Sheila Rowbotham remembers the catalytic influence of Edward and Dorothy Thompson on her own life and work.

On Reading The Making Of The English Working Class

20231204

Sheila Rowbotham remembers the catalytic influence of Edward and Dorothy Thompson.

Sheila Rowbotham remembers the catalytic influence of Edward and Dorothy Thompson on her own life and work.

Sheila Rowbotham is a historian of feminism and radical social movements. Her latest book is Daring to Hope: My Life in the 1970s.

The Making Of Ep Thompson

20231205

EP Thompson spent many years as an adult education tutor among industrial communities in the West Riding of Yorkshire. When The Making of the English Working Class was published in 1963 he dedicated it to his students. In this essay, the historian and biographer Geoff Andrews recalls his own experiences of adult education in the 1980s and explores the ways in which these democratic classroom encounters might have provided an opportunity for EP Thompson to learn as well as teach.

Historian Geoff Andrews explores EP Thompson's experience of adult education.

Geoff Andrews explores the ways in which EP Thompson's experiences as an adult education tutor were the making of The Making of the English Working Class.

Geoff Andrews is a historian and biographer, currently writing a new history of the labour movement.

The Rescuer

20231207

It's a book that lies at the root of contemporary social history, of cultural studies, sociology and anthropology, where, in the years after its publication, the idea of agency – the 'making' of the title – came to be a defining touchstone in thinking about culture and society. And it was popular too, even if its easily recognisable blue Pelican covers – and almost 1000 pages – were possibly more dipped into than read cover to cover.

The Making of the English Working Class was written in the years after EP Thompson left the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1956. In this essay, David Aaronovitch explores how, as well as his experience of leaving the Party, EP Thompson's communism was essential to the writing of his great book.

David Aaronovitch explores EP Thompson's The Making of the English Working Class.

David Aaronovitch explores EP Thompson's classic work of social history The Making of the English Working Class.

The Rescuer

20231207

David Aaronovitch explores EP Thompson's The Making of the English Working Class.

David Aaronovitch explores EP Thompson's classic work of social history The Making of the English Working Class.

Those Thompson Left Behind

20231206

In this essay, writer and historian Christienna Fryar reflects on EP Thompson's silence about slavery – and remembers how his account of Methodism resonated with her own experiences growing up in the United States and her first research interests as a working historian.

Christienna Fryar on the inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history.

Christienna Fryar remembers how EP Thompson's classic work of social history The Making of the English Working Class resonated with her own experiences, growing up in the USA.

Those Thompson Left Behind

20231206

Christienna Fryar on the inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history.

Christienna Fryar remembers how EP Thompson's classic work of social history The Making of the English Working Class resonated with her own experiences, growing up in the USA.

In this essay, writer and historian Christienna Fryar remembers how EP Thompson's account of Methodism resonated with her own experiences growing up in the United States – and reflects on Thompson's silence on the slave trade.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Comments
Breaking Class	20231208	Drawing on her own experiences of growing up in rural poverty, the writer Natasha Carthew explores the personal resonances and inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history. Writer Natasha Carthew on the inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history. Writer Natasha Carthew on the personal resonances and inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history.
Breaking Class	20231208	EP Thompson's landmark social history, The Making of the English Working Class, is a book that changed lives. In an academic world where history was primarily concerned with power and political reform, EP Thompson sought to rescue working people from, as he put it, 'the enormous condescension of posterity'. Drawing on her own experiences of growing up in rural poverty, the writer Natasha Carthew explores the personal resonances and inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history. Writer Natasha Carthew on the inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history. Writer Natasha Carthew on the personal resonances and inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history.
On Reading The Making Of The English Working Class	20231204	EP Thompson's landmark social history, The Making of the English Working Class, is a book that changed lives. In an academic world where history was primarily concerned with power and political reform, EP Thompson sought to rescue working people from, as he put it, 'the enormous condescension of posterity'. The writer and historian Sheila Rowbotham first met Edward and Dorothy Thompson in 1962, a year before the publication of The Making of the English Working Class. In this essay, she remembers their catalytic influence on her own life and work – and the continuing relevance of the book she first read in proof form as a student. Sheila Rowbotham is a historian of feminism and radical social movements. Her latest book is Daring to Hope: My Life in the 1970s. Sheila Rowbotham remembers the catalytic influence of Edward and Dorothy Thompson. Sheila Rowbotham remembers the catalytic influence of Edward and Dorothy Thompson on her own life and work.
On Reading The Making Of The English Working Class	20231204	The writer and historian Sheila Rowbotham first met Edward and Dorothy Thompson in 1962, a year before the publication of The Making of the English Working Class. In this essay, she remembers their catalytic influence on her own life and work – and the continuing relevance of the book she first read in proof form as a student. Sheila Rowbotham remembers the catalytic influence of Edward and Dorothy Thompson. Sheila Rowbotham remembers the catalytic influence of Edward and Dorothy Thompson on her own life and work. Sheila Rowbotham is a historian of feminism and radical social movements. Her latest book is Daring to Hope: My Life in the 1970s.
The Making Of Ep Thompson	20231205	EP Thompson spent many years as an adult education tutor among industrial communities in the West Riding of Yorkshire. When The Making of the English Working Class was published in 1963 he dedicated it to his students. In this essay, the historian and biographer Geoff Andrews recalls his own experiences of adult education in the 1980s and explores the ways in which these democratic classroom encounters might have provided an opportunity for EP Thompson to learn as well as teach. Historian Geoff Andrews explores EP Thompson's experience of adult education. Geoff Andrews explores the ways in which EP Thompson's experiences as an adult education tutor were the making of The Making of the English Working Class. Geoff Andrews is a historian and biographer, currently writing a new history of the labour movement.
The Rescuer	20231207	EP Thompson's landmark social history, The Making of the English Working Class, is a book that changed lives. In an academic world where history was primarily concerned with power and political reform, EP Thompson sought to rescue working people from, as he put it, 'the enormous condescension of posterity'. It's a book that lies at the root of contemporary social history, of cultural studies, sociology and anthropology, where, in the years after its publication, the idea of agency – the 'making' of the title – came to be a defining touchstone in thinking about culture and society. And it was popular too, even if its easily recognisable blue Pelican covers – and almost 1000 pages – were possibly more dipped into than read cover to cover. The Making of the English Working Class was written in the years after EP Thompson left the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1956. In this essay, David Aaronovitch explores how, as well as his experience of leaving the Party, EP Thompson's communism was essential to the writing of his great book. David Aaronovitch explores EP Thompson's The Making of the English Working Class. David Aaronovitch explores EP Thompson's classic work of social history The Making of the English Working Class.
The Rescuer	20231207	It's a book that lies at the root of contemporary social history, of cultural studies, sociology and anthropology, where, in the years after its publication, the idea of agency – the 'making' of the title – came to be a defining touchstone in thinking about culture and society. And it was popular too, even if its easily recognisable blue Pelican covers – and almost 1000 pages – were possibly more dipped into than read cover to cover. The Making of the English Working Class was written in the years after EP Thompson left the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1956. In this essay, David Aaronovitch explores how, as well as his experience of leaving the Party, EP Thompson's communism was essential to the writing of his great book. David Aaronovitch explores EP Thompson's The Making of the English Working Class. David Aaronovitch explores EP Thompson's classic work of social history The Making of the English Working Class.
Those Thompson Left Behind	20231206	EP Thompson's landmark social history, The Making of the English Working Class, is a book that changed lives. In an academic world where history was primarily concerned with power and political reform, EP Thompson sought to rescue working people from, as he put it, 'the enormous condescension of posterity'. In this essay, writer and historian Christienna Fryar reflects on EP Thompson's silence about slavery – and remembers how his account of Methodism resonated with her own experiences growing up in the United States and her first research interests as a working historian. Christienna Fryar on the inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history. Christienna Fryar remembers how EP Thompson's classic work of social history The Making of the English Working Class resonated with her own experiences, growing up in the USA.
Those Thompson Left Behind	20231206	In this essay, writer and historian Christienna Fryar reflects on EP Thompson's silence about slavery – and remembers how his account of Methodism resonated with her own experiences growing up in the United States and her first research interests as a working historian. Christienna Fryar on the inspiration of EP Thompson's classic work of social history. Christienna Fryar remembers how EP Thompson's classic work of social history The Making of the English Working Class resonated with her own experiences, growing up in the USA. In this essay, writer and historian Christienna Fryar remembers how EP Thompson's account of Methodism resonated with her own experiences growing up in the United States – and reflects on Thompson's silence on the slave trade.