The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy

"A brilliant, multifaceted chronicle of economic and social change." — The New York Times

At the outset of the 1870s, the British aristocracy stood as the most fortunate people on earth. They controlled:

• The lion's share of land, wealth, and power
• Dominance within the world's greatest empire

However, by the end of the 1930s, their fortunes had drastically changed. They had suffered:

• The loss of a generation of sons in the First World War
• A significant decline in prosperity, prestige, and political significance

David Cannadine masterfully explores this seismic shift by orchestrating an enormous array of documents, letters, facts, and statistics. He reveals not only how this transformation occurred but also how it was further reinforced in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Astonishingly learned, lucidly written, and sparkling with wit, The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy is a landmark study that dramatically changes our understanding of British social history.