"This book present a critical narrative of labour's place in the process of industrialisation between about 1830 and the outbreak of the Great War." "At the outset of this crucial period, it was evident to most observers that the labour market and the wider economy had been transformed by what became known as the Industrial Revolution. Pervasive changes continued until 1914 (an appropriate date at which to conclude, as it marks the impact of a war that caused the biggest shift in the demand for labour since the Black Death). In assessing these processes, however, MacRaild and Martin make clear that most workers were not employed in manufacturing; indeed, the variegated nature of the labour market and the differing pace of change in different sectors of the economy are the book's key themes. There is also discussion of broader aspects of working-class culture, as well as politics and protest." "MacRaild and Martin provide a clear, thematic guide through this complex area of economic and social history, while the critical bibliography offers an introduction to the wider literature."--BOOK JACKET.