Britain in the 1930s

Historical debate about the 1930s has been sharply polarized. Some see the decade as a period of growing prosperity administered by sane and responsible governments. For others, it was a period of grinding poverty and high unemployment, blighted by weak and indecisive governments. Examining politics, the economy and society, Thorpe argues that while Britain did not thrive in the 1930s, its governments did as well as could be expected in the face of unprecedented problems. He also draws comparisons with Britain in the 1980s.