Austerity in Britain: Rationing, Controls, and Consumption, 1939-1955 - Softcover

Zweiniger-Bargielowska, Ina

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199251029 ISBN 13: 9780199251025

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2002

Synopsis

Austerity in Britain is the first book to explore the entire episode of rationing, austerity, and fair shares from 1939 until 1955. These policies were central to the British war effort and to post-war reconstrucion. The book analyses the connections between government policy, consumption, gender, and party politics during and after the Second World War. The economic background to austerity, the policy's administration, and changes in consumption standards are examined. Rationing resulted in at times extensive black markets and popular attitudes to the policy ranged from wartime acquiescence to post-war discontent. Austerity in Britain qualifies the myth of common sacrifice on the home front and highlights the limitations of the fair-shares policy which failed to achieve genuine equality between the classes or between men and women. The continuation of rationing and austerity policies after 1945 was central to party politics. Disaffecton, particulary among women, undermined Labour's popularity while the Conservatives' critique of austerity was instrumental in the party's victories at the general elections of 1951 and 1955.

About this title

Review:

this is persuasive, and will have a large impact on discussion of post-1945 politics ... an impressive and important book. (Philip Williamson, English Historical Review)

In view of its importance, the austerity regime has not attracted the academic study it deserves, and this scholarly and thoroughly researched book by Ina Zweiniger-Bargielowska will, therefore, be widely welcomed. She challenges received opinion in several ways and has much of interest to say for students of war, British administration, women and party-political history. (Martin Pugh, Times Literary Supplement)

At last we have a full history. Austerity in Britain is required reading for anyone who thinks that utility furniture and pencil-line stockings say it all. (Richard Overy, The Sunday Telegraph)

From the Publisher:

Reviews from TLS, EH.Net & The Sunday Telegraph.
`I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the British history of the mid-twentieth century.' John Singleton, EH.NET, July 2000.

`the austerity regime has not attracted the academic study it deserves, and this scholarly and thoroughly researched book by Ina Zweiniger-Bargielowska will, therefore, be widely welcomed. She challenges received opinion in several ways and has much of interest to say for students of war, British administration, women, and party-political history ... Readers of Austerity in Britain will particularly enjoy the detailed discussion of the black market.' Martin Pugh, Times Literature Supplement, November 2000

`At last we have a full history. Austerity in Britain is required reading for anyone who thinks that utility furniture and pencil-line stockings say it all.' Richard Overy, The Sunday Telegraph

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0199251029
• ISBN 13: 9780199251025
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304