Chartism subject of new book

Perish the Privileged Orders

by Mark O'Brien (New Clarion Press, £8.95)

Friday 19 February 2010

by John Green

The title of this slim volume is aptly taken from the fiery words of the Chartist leader Henry Vincent.

It is a welcome, newly revised edition of a very readable and informative history of the Chartist movement.

It also reminds us of how close Britain came to armed revolution during the mid-1800s.

The ruling classes literally cowered in their mansions. Most historians downplay this aspect and have characterised Chartism as a peaceful and ultimately defeated movement.

It was a very broad movement made up of diverse strands, with leaders advocating different tactics, but it was symptomatic of mass working-class anger and its thirst for justice.

We owe many of our rights today to those brave and selfless men and women who fought then for basic dignity and equality for working people, as the author reminds us in his conclusion.

It is also interesting to be reminded of how internationalist the movement was.

Mark O'Brien does exaggerate the influence of the Chartist movement on the thinking of Marx and Engels, but this is due more to his infectious enthusiasm than misjudgement. An ideal introduction to Chartism for anyone.