'Cowan mobilises memory as a powerful means of understanding historical change, the relationship between generations over time, and, ultimately, the history of modern Britain. An outstanding contribution to the field.' Claire Langhamer, University of Sussex 'Cowan takes his readers on a tour of cities around the UK, richly evoking the specificities of place while building a compelling argument about the shifting meanings of the thirties in popular political imaginaries.' Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite, University College London 'This insightful and engaging book is not only a sophisticated study of memories of the inter-war period, but also a thought-provoking analysis of British popular political culture across the twentieth century. Politics of the Past makes numerous important interventions in the history of modern Britain.' Adrian Bingham, University of Sheffield 'By drawing upon a rich array of social-science interviews, David Cowan reveals how the place of the Depression in post-war politics was shaped by family stories, shifting memories and locality. Politics of the Past is a fascinating account of popular politics and shows the power of emotions, everyday experiences and generation in political life.' Stephanie Ward, Cardiff University 'In his deeply researched and richly analytical book, David Cowan explores the ways in which memories of the 1930s have been variably composed, narrated and received across post-war British history. [ The book] will be of significant interest to oral historians because of the central place of memory within its purview.' George Severs, Oral History Society
