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Using
unique archive material, this book examines the prehistory of cultural studies
in Britain, tracing its roots in adult education, especially in the work of
Raymond Williams, EP Thompson and Richard Hoggart, who all worked in this
field.
Each of these three worked in a context in which popular culture and inter-disciplinary understanding were important, and where English Studies was broadened to embrace a range of material and experience not included in the Leavisite definitions. This led to a pre-occupation with the term 'culture' in its many meanings - and especially in its relationship to Englishness.
Eventually this pre-occupation developed into a new area of study, and to the setting up of the Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies.
Drawing on archive material as well as contemporary history and analysis, Tom Steele provides a fascinating account of the overlapping interests which combined to produce a completely new area of study.
Tom Steele is Access Co-ordinator at the University of Glasgow. Previous books include: Masters, Missionaries and Militants: Studies of Social Movements and Popular Adult Education (1996), co-edited with Alejandro Tiana and Barry J Hake; and Adult Education for Independence: The Introduction of University Extra Mural Work into British Tropical Africa (1995), co-authored with Colin Titmus.