The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy - by David Cannadine (Paperback)

About the Book

Deftly orchestrating an enormous array of documents and letters, facts and statistics, Cannadine shows how the prestige, prosperity, and political significance of the British aristocracy shifted between the outset of the 1870s and the end of the 1930s. 129 illustrations.

Book Synopsis

"A brilliant, multifaceted chronicle of economic and social change." --The New York Times

At the outset of the 1870s, the British aristocracy could rightly consider themselves the most fortunate people on earth: they held the lion's share of land, wealth, and power in the world's greatest empire. By the end of the 1930s they had lost not only a generation of sons in the First World War, but also much of their prosperity, prestige, and political significance.

Deftly orchestrating an enormous array of documents and letters, facts, and statistics, David Cannadine shows how this shift came about--and how it was reinforced in the aftermath of the Second World War. Astonishingly learned, lucidly written, and sparkling with wit, The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy is a landmark study that dramatically changes our understanding of British social history.

Review Quotes

"A brilliant, multifaceted chronicle of economic and social change." --The New York Times

"No praise can be too high." --The New York Review of Books

"Cannadine has produced a great book, one that is comprehensive in its scope, and of critical importance." --London Review of Books

"This highly entertaining social history, full of fascinating anecdotal material...is the last word on the subject." --The Washington Post Book World

"An impressive volume that will be cited by writers on the subject for years to come for its immense learning and the care with which the author has organized a mass of material." --The Wall Street Journal

About the Author

Sir David Cannadine was born in Birmingham, England, in 1950 and educated at Cambridge, Oxford, and Princeton. He is the author of many acclaimed books, including The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy, G. M. Trevelyan, History in Our Time, Class in Britain, Ornamentalism, and Mellon. He has taught at Cambridge and Columbia Universities and has also served as director of the Institute of Historical Research, University of London. He is currently Dodge Professor of History at Princeton University.