58 pages • 1 hour read
E. P. ThompsonThe Making of the English Working Class
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1963A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Making of the English Working Class by E. P. Thompson details the emergence of the English working class in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, exploring its development in response to political repression and economic exploitation. The book illustrates how the working class gained a distinct identity, culminating in the Reform Act of 1832. The reader should be aware of depictions of systemic oppression and exploitative labor conditions.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
E. P. Thompson's The Making of the English Working Class is widely praised for its rich detail and groundbreaking perspective on the rise of industrial labor. Critics applaud its passionate narrative and thorough research, though some note its dense prose and occasional ideological bias. Overall, it's considered a seminal work in social history.
Who Should Read The Making of the English Working Class?
Ideal for history enthusiasts and social scientists, readers of E. P. Thompson's The Making of the English Working Class usually have an interest in labor history and class dynamics. Comparable to those who appreciate Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, they seek thorough scholarship that foregrounds the experiences of ordinary people.