This volume of specially-commissioned essays by leading social historians has been written to honour the eminent historian, Dorothy Thompson. The importance of Dorothy Thompson's writings on Chartism and Irish and women's history is recognized by scholars across the world. Her work, like that of her late husband, E. P. Thompson, has always been informed by a passionate radicalism and by a deep sympathy for the underdog.

The essays in this collection span the whole range of nineteenth- and twentieth-century British social history. There are contributions on Chartism, feminism and the emancipation of women, rural resistance, the treatment of lunatics, and immigration and immigrant communities. The Duty of Discontent is indeed a rich and valuable collection of essays, which will please all those who take an interest in modern British social history.

The contributors to this volume all recognize their debt to Dorothy Thompson, being either former research students whose work she supervised at the University of Birmingham, or scholars who have benefited from her support, advice and encouragement.