Tom Mann, 1856-1941

This is a full biography of Tom Mann, one of the most important figures in the early British socialist movement. He played a prominent role in the London dock strike of 1889, and it marked the start of a political career which was to last for more than half a century. He was a figure of international stature within the labour movement. His travels included visits to China and South Africa. The range of his intellectual and organizational interests, including the Labour Church, the Independent Labour Party, syndicalism and communism, reflects the eclectic development of socialism in the late 19th and early 20th century. Chushichi Tsuzuki has exploited a wide range of sources, including interviews and family papers. He sets Tom Mann in the context of his time, and charts his life and career in detail. He explores Mann's relationship with Ben Tillett and John Burns - the triumvirate of labour leaders in the 1890s. Professor Tsuzuki's account of the man and his cause should make an important contribution to labour history.