Protest

About

PAPERBACK EDITION  

Whatever happened to British protest?

For a nation that brought the world Chartism, the Suffragettes, the Tolpuddle Martyrs, and so many other grassroots social movements, Britain rarely celebrates its long, great tradition of people power. In this timely and evocative collection, twenty authors have assembled to re-imagine key moments of British protest, from the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 to the anti-Iraq War demo of 2003. Written in close consultation with historians, sociologists and eyewitnesses – who also contribute afterwords – these stories follow fictional characters caught up in real-life struggles, offering a streetlevel perspective on the noble art of resistance. In the age of fake news and post-truth politics this book fights fiction with (well researched, historically accurate) fiction.

Featuring:

Sara Maitland and Prof. Jane Whittle on THE PEASANT'S REVOLT
Holly Pester and Dr. Steve Hindle on THE MIDLANDS RISING
Matthew Holness and Dr. John Rees and Prof. Mark Stoyle on THE DIGGERS
Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Dr. Ariel Hessayon on VENNER'S RISING
Andy Hedgecock and Dr. Kartina Navickas on THE PENTRICH LUDDITES
Laura Hird and Dr. Gordon Pentland on the RADICAL WAR
Mish Green and Elizabeth Crawford on THE SUFFRAGETTES
Sandra Alland and Dr Francis Salt on the NATIONAL BLIND MARCH
Stuart Evers and Dr Michael Randle on the ALDERMASTON MARCHES
Kit de Waal and Avtar Jouhl on MALCOLM X in SMETHWICK
Alexei Sayle and Rusell Hickman on the ANTI-VIETNAM WAR DEMO
David and Stephen Constantine on the ANTI-RIVERS OF BLOOD MARCH
Maggie Gee and Prof Sally Alexander on the NIGHT CLEANERS' STRIIKE
Francesca Rhydderch and Ned Thomas on the WELSH LANGUAGE PROTESTS
Jacob Ross and Prof. Stephen Reicher on the NEW CROSS FIRE & THE BRIXTON RIOTS
Joanna Quinn and Lyn Barlow on GREENHAM COMMON
Martyn Bedford and Prof. David Waddington on the BATTLE OF ORGREAVE
Juliet Jacques and Dr. Em Temple-Malt on SECTION 28
Courttia Newland and Dr. John Drury on the POLL TAX RIOT

This project has been supported by the Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust and the Lipman-Miliband Trust, as well as Arts Council England.

Listen to the audiobook exclusively on Audible HERE.

Listen to the Comma Press Podcast featuring Protest contributors discussing their stories HERE.

Press

"A wonderful collection of stories about the enriching beauty and strength of protest.
A book to inspire us all." - Maxine Peake

Part of the Time to Read NW 'New Words' project.