Overview

Between 1903 and 1913, an extensive public debate played itself out in the British press involving the self-governing dominions of the Empire. The debate centered on three large topics--tariff reform, South African reconstruction, and imperial unity--and saw the participation of some of the most respected figures in Edwardian journalism. This book presents a thorough discussion of the involvement of these renowned journalists and the quality press in this debate, examining Edwardian imperial thought as it was reflected in their work. In addition, the quality of their political journalism is evaluated, particularly in regard to its enduring value. The book begins with several introductory chapters, including sections on the journalists James Louis Garvin, John St. Loe Strachey, and John Alfred Spender. The three imperial issues are then fully detailed in light of serious journalistic opinion regarding them. These chapters help to underscore the perceptions informed publicists had about the Empire in general and its future, and to trace the development of thought concerning dominion relations, press opinion about South African reconstruction, and the Tariff Reform vs. Free Trade debate. Among the other topics addressed are the role of the quality press in Edwardian public debate, the attitude toward imperialism following the Boer War, and the strength of the public press in Edwardian political journalism. The book concludes with a chapter that places the entire subject in a broader, 20th-century framework. This book will be a valuable addition to public, college, and university libraries, as well as a useful resource for courses in British history and the history of journalism.

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9780313277146

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Reviews

Startt has previously written a biography of E.P. Bell, Journalism's Unofficial Ambassador (1979), and with William David Sloan, a communications textbook, Historical Methods in Mass Communication (1989). Here he again combines his interest in history and journalism. His principal focus is narrow: the response of the stately press to the debate over empire in the decade before WW I. Startt's imperial journalists are J.L. Garvin, John St. Loe Strachey, J.A. Spender, and writers and editors at The Times. Using archival as well as published sources, he traces their public and private attitudes toward tariff reform, Chinese labor and political reconstruction in South Africa, and the search for imperial cooperation. Start aptly connects his subjects with broader developments, and his writing is lucid. The result is an excellent insight into the journalism of the Edwardian era and its relationship to politics. Journalists for Empire is useful in itself and as a supplement to other studies, e.g., volume 2 of Stephen Koss's masterful The Rise and Fall of the Political Press in Britain (London, 1981). Bibliography and index are good. Upper-division undergraduates and above. -Choice His impressively researched and well-written book makes clear that an intellectual Fourth Estate still had a solid place in British journalism during the first decades of the twentieth century. -Journalism History Startt has produced a readable, well-crafted, book, which makes an important contribution to the subject from a new angle. In a critical retrospect, he points out that the later Commonwealth turned out to be very different from the system which these committed Edwardians hoped for. -The International History Review Professor Startt . . . explores two significant aspects of Edwardian society: the nature and quality of serious journalism, and certain issues relating to the British Empire, skillfully blending them into a perceptive and informative narrative. . . . This fascinating book will be of interest to historians and journalists alike. It is highly recommended for academic and public libraries. -Academic Library Book Review ?His impressively researched and well-written book makes clear that an intellectual Fourth Estate still had a solid place in British journalism during the first decades of the twentieth century.?-Journalism History ?Startt has produced a readable, well-crafted, book, which makes an important contribution to the subject from a new angle. In a critical retrospect, he points out that the later Commonwealth turned out to be very different from the system which these committed Edwardians hoped for.?-The International History Review ?Professor Startt . . . explores two significant aspects of Edwardian society: the nature and quality of serious journalism, and certain issues relating to the British Empire, skillfully blending them into a perceptive and informative narrative. . . . This fascinating book will be of interest to historians and journalists alike. It is highly recommended for academic and public libraries.?-Academic Library Book Review ?Startt has previously written a biography of E.P. Bell, Journalism's Unofficial Ambassador (1979), and with William David Sloan, a communications textbook, Historical Methods in Mass Communication (1989). Here he again combines his interest in history and journalism. His principal focus is narrow: the response of the stately press to the debate over empire in the decade before WW I. Startt's imperial journalists are J.L. Garvin, John St. Loe Strachey, J.A. Spender, and writers and editors at The Times. Using archival as well as published sources, he traces their public and private attitudes toward tariff reform, Chinese labor and political reconstruction in South Africa, and the search for imperial cooperation. Start aptly connects his subjects with broader developments, and his writing is lucid. The result is an excellent insight into the journalism of the Edwardian era and its relationship to politics. Journalists for Empire is useful in itself and as a supplement to other studies, e.g., volume 2 of Stephen Koss's masterful The Rise and Fall of the Political Press in Britain (London, 1981). Bibliography and index are good. Upper-division undergraduates and above.?-Choice

Startt has previously written a biography of E.P. Bell, Journalism's Unofficial Ambassador (1979), and with William David Sloan, a communications textbook, Historical Methods in Mass Communication (1989). Here he again combines his interest in history and journalism. His principal focus is narrow: the response of the stately press to the debate over empire in the decade before WW I. Startt's imperial journalists are J.L. Garvin, John St. Loe Strachey, J.A. Spender, and writers and editors at The Times. Using archival as well as published sources, he traces their public and private attitudes toward tariff reform, Chinese labor and political reconstruction in South Africa, and the search for imperial cooperation. Start aptly connects his subjects with broader developments, and his writing is lucid. The result is an excellent insight into the journalism of the Edwardian era and its relationship to politics. Journalists for Empire is useful in itself and as a supplement to other studies, e.g., volume 2 of Stephen Koss's masterful The Rise and Fall of the Political Press in Britain (London, 1981). Bibliography and index are good. Upper-division undergraduates and above. -Choice Startt has produced a readable, well-crafted, book, which makes an important contribution to the subject from a new angle. In a critical retrospect, he points out that the later Commonwealth turned out to be very different from the system which these committed Edwardians hoped for. -The International History Review Professor Startt . . . explores two significant aspects of Edwardian society: the nature and quality of serious journalism, and certain issues relating to the British Empire, skillfully blending them into a perceptive and informative narrative. . . . This fascinating book will be of interest to historians and journalists alike. It is highly recommended for academic and public libraries. -Academic Library Book Review His impressively researched and well-written book makes clear that an intellectual Fourth Estate still had a solid place in British journalism during the first decades of the twentieth century. -Journalism History ?Startt has produced a readable, well-crafted, book, which makes an important contribution to the subject from a new angle. In a critical retrospect, he points out that the later Commonwealth turned out to be very different from the system which these committed Edwardians hoped for.?-The International History Review ?Startt has previously written a biography of E.P. Bell, Journalism's Unofficial Ambassador (1979), and with William David Sloan, a communications textbook, Historical Methods in Mass Communication (1989). Here he again combines his interest in history and journalism. His principal focus is narrow: the response of the stately press to the debate over empire in the decade before WW I. Startt's imperial journalists are J.L. Garvin, John St. Loe Strachey, J.A. Spender, and writers and editors at The Times. Using archival as well as published sources, he traces their public and private attitudes toward tariff reform, Chinese labor and political reconstruction in South Africa, and the search for imperial cooperation. Start aptly connects his subjects with broader developments, and his writing is lucid. The result is an excellent insight into the journalism of the Edwardian era and its relationship to politics. Journalists for Empire is useful in itself and as a supplement to other studies, e.g., volume 2 of Stephen Koss's masterful The Rise and Fall of the Political Press in Britain (London, 1981). Bibliography and index are good. Upper-division undergraduates and above.?-Choice ?His impressively researched and well-written book makes clear that an intellectual Fourth Estate still had a solid place in British journalism during the first decades of the twentieth century.?-Journalism History ?Professor Startt . . . explores two significant aspects of Edwardian society: the nature and quality of serious journalism, and certain issues relating to the British Empire, skillfully blending them into a perceptive and informative narrative. . . . This fascinating book will be of interest to historians and journalists alike. It is highly recommended for academic and public libraries.?-Academic Library Book Review

?Startt has previously written a biography of E.P. Bell, Journalism's Unofficial Ambassador (1979), and with William David Sloan, a communications textbook, Historical Methods in Mass Communication (1989). Here he again combines his interest in history and journalism. His principal focus is narrow: the response of the stately press to the debate over empire in the decade before WW I. Startt's imperial journalists are J.L. Garvin, John St. Loe Strachey, J.A. Spender, and writers and editors at The Times. Using archival as well as published sources, he traces their public and private attitudes toward tariff reform, Chinese labor and political reconstruction in South Africa, and the search for imperial cooperation. Start aptly connects his subjects with broader developments, and his writing is lucid. The result is an excellent insight into the journalism of the Edwardian era and its relationship to politics. Journalists for Empire is useful in itself and as a supplement to other studies, e.g., volume 2 of Stephen Koss's masterful The Rise and Fall of the Political Press in Britain (London, 1981). Bibliography and index are good. Upper-division undergraduates and above.?-Choice

Author Information

JAMES D. STARTT is Professor of History at Valparaiso University in Indiana. He has authored a wide variety of articles on British history and journalism, as well as two books.

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