Edwardian Conservatism: Five Studies in Adaptation

Conservatism is not an ideology but a frame of mind, an outlook, a general approach, grounded in temperament, psychology, economic interest, or any combination of these factors. Attempts to analyse it largely in terms of a written body of carefully formulated and coherent thought in the same way that communism or Christianity are analysed is inappropriate. They fail to account for how readily conservatism takes on the coloration of time, place, or personality. First published in 1988, Edwardian Conservatism examines forms of conservatism prevalent in Edwardian England. It discusses the areas that have been closest to heart of most conservatives—including the church, the Army, and the law—and discusses their importance in the work and lives of figures as diverse as Lord Hugh Cecil and Lord Roberts. The chapters give a picture of a traditional world attempting to adapt to modernity. This book will be of interest to students and researchers of British history.