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Leading thinkers, writers and politicians show what their heroes can contribute to contemporary debates in this collection published to mark the Fabian Society's 120th anniversary in 2004. With contributions from Robin Cook on George Bernard Shaw, Roy Hattersley on HG Wells, Raymond Plant on Tawney and Andrew Gamble on Bernard Crick.
In the years since a group of socialist intellectuals first gathered at the home of Edward Pease in 1884, the Fabian Society has established itself as Britain's premier left-of centre think-tank. The Fabians have been at the heart of British politics since their inception, helping to write the Labour Party's constitution in 1918 and playing a key role in its reformulation under Tony Blair's leadership in 1994-95. They have always been ahead of the game, advocating a national minimum wage, female emancipation and House of Lords reform before these issues were even on the political agenda.
To mark 120 years at the forefront of progressive politics, the Fabian Society asked some of today's leading thinkers, writers and politicians what their heroes have to say to us now. Here Roy Hattersley rejoices in HG Wells's arrival on the Fabian scene 'in a state of flaming rebellion, most blapshemous and ungainly; Raymond Plant reminds us of RH Tawney's belief that 'freedom for the pike is death for the minnows'; Andrew Gamble celebrates one of the greatest living Fabians, Bernard Crick, and Robin Cook explains why he grew his beard. This collection will inspire anyone who cares about the history - and the future - of British politics.
Contents
1. Introduction - Sunder Katwala
2. Annie Besant - Yasmin Khan
3. George Bernard Shaw - Robin Cook
4. The Webbs - Guy Lodge
5. HG Wells - Roy Hattersley
6. RH Tawney - Raymond Plant
7. GDH Cole and Margaret Cole - Tony Wright
8. Harold Laski - Ellie Levenson
9. Michael Young - Phillip Whitehead
10. Anthony Crosland - Austin Mitchell
11. Brian Abel-Smith - Peter Townsend
12. John P. Mackintosh - Greg Rosen
13. Bernard Crick - Andrew Gamble
Fabian Thinkers edited by Ellie Levenson, Guy Lodge and Greg Rosen is published on 20th October 2004 and available priced £6.95 from the Fabian Society.
ISSN 1469 0136
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