An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List
46. Culture Wars
April 26, 2021
Description
Books Referenced
Author: Peter Marshall
Context:
Dominic mentions reading this book while writing about Henry VIII during the lockdown period around the George Floyd protests. He describes it as 'one of the best history books I think I've ever read about the English reformation' and notes the parallels between Reformation-era conflicts and modern culture wars.
Author: Robert Toombs
Context:
Dominic cites this book when arguing that British/English politics has always had a cultural dimension, with Robert Toombs arguing that there has always been a religious gap between Tories/conservatives (Church of England) and the liberal left-wing tendency (driven by religious non-conformity and dissent).
Author: James Davison Hunter
Context:
Dominic references this 1991 book by the American sociologist as 'the book that enshrines the term culture wars.' He discusses Hunter's argument about the clash between 'the orthodox and the progressive' in American society. The book being referenced is likely 'Culture Wars: The Struggle to Define America' though the title is not explicitly stated.