Why do people write about politics? And why does political writing get published? This innovative study explores the diverse world of modern British political writing, examining its evolving genres and their pivotal role in shaping political identities, ideologies, and movements. Spanning memoirs, biographies, parliamentary novels, fanzines, and grassroots publications, chapters consider how these forms have documented lived experiences, challenged authority, and influenced political discourse across all levels of society. Contributions from leading scholars illuminate the creative strategies and cultural contexts of political writing since the late nineteenth-century across varied regional contexts, from Beatrice Webb's diaries to punk zines and Conservative pamphlets. In doing so, they examine the interplay of literature, propaganda, and activism, offering fresh perspectives on the connections between politics and publishing. Accessible and insightful, this study provides a window into how political ideas are crafted, disseminated, and reinforced through the written word.

‘Even in an age of podcasts and TikTok, the written word remains crucial to how both politicians and voters understand and articulate political ideas. The authors in this capacious and engaging volume shed a new light on how writing about politics has shaped our understanding in the modern era. The volume is an important contribution to the literature on contemporary political history.

Laura Beers - American University

‘In Writing Politics in Modern Britain, an accomplished array of practitioners of the ‘new political history' address how literary conventions shape political texts. The result is a distinctly original contribution to our understanding of how politics has been conceived in modern Britain, with a commendable focus on the contexts of gender and sexuality.'

Martin Francis - University of Sussex

‘This invaluable collection explores how acts of writing and publishing enabled different ways of ‘doing politics.' Dazzling in scope, the authors expertly examine the connections between writers and readers at all levels of society. Writing Politics in Modern Britain will undoubtedly become a landmark study.'

Saima Nasar - University of Bristol