An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

108. The Industrial Revolution

October 14, 2021

Description

Did the industrial revolution really improve people’s lives? And why was Britain first to industrialise? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by Emma Griffin, professor of modern history...
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Books Referenced

The Old Curiosity Shop

Author: Charles Dickens

Context:

A passage from this 1841 novel is read aloud describing the industrial landscape of the Black Country, with tall chimneys, smoke, and strange engines. Used to illustrate Victorian literary depictions of industrialization.

The Age of Revolution

Author: Eric Hobsbawm

Context:

Referenced when discussing Hobsbawm's famous claim that 'the Industrial Revolution was probably the most important event in world history.' The specific book title is not mentioned but this is attributed to the historian's written work.

Liberty's Dawn

Author: Emma Griffin

Context:

Emma Griffin's book about the Industrial Revolution told through ordinary people's memoirs and autobiographies. Mentioned multiple times - described as 'brilliant' and noted that some schools use it to teach the Industrial Revolution.