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Explore the captivating journey of Britain through the 20th century with “Culture, Politics and Sport: Britain in the 20th Century”. This compelling book takes readers on a unique voyage through time, offering bite-sized chunks of social history that delve into the cultural, political, and sporting landscapes of each decade. From the dawn of the new century to the eve of the new millennium, this bite-sized guide provides an insightful and engaging account of Britain’s transformation over 100 years. Each decade is explored in a dedicated chapter, allowing readers to gain an understanding of the key events, societal shifts, and influential figures that shaped Britain. From the Roaring Twenties to the swinging 1960s and from the turbulent 1980s to the dawn of the digital age, the book offers a panoramic view of the nation’s social fabric.

The book seamlessly weaves together the intertwined threads of culture, politics and sport, revealing their impact on the British society throughout the 20th century. Discover how the arts, music, and literature evolved, reflecting the changing values and aspirations of the people. Uncover the political upheavals that shaped the nation, from the suffrage movement and the rise and fall of political ideologies to the transformative post-war welfare state. And dive into the world of British sport, where heroes were made, records were broken, and moments of triumph and heartbreak captured the nation’s spirit.

Through a combination of engaging storytelling and concise historical analysis, “Culture, Politics and Sport: Britain in the 20th Century” brings history to life. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious about the past, this book provides a fascinating exploration of the transformative events and social dynamics that have shaped modern Britain.

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This is a history of different types of gambling over the centuries in England, from cards to horse races. From the intro: “Gaming is derived from the Saxon word Gamen, meaning joy, pleasure, sports, or gaming—and is so interpreted by Bailey, in his Dictionary of 1736; whilst Johnson gives Gamble—to play extravagantly for money, and this distinction is to be borne in mind in the perusal of this book; although the older term was in use until the invention of the later—as we see in Cotton’s Compleat Gamester (1674), in which he gives the following excellent definition of the word:—“Gaming is an enchanting witchery, gotten between Idleness and Avarice: an itching disease, that makes some scratch the head, whilst others, as if they were bitten by a Tarantula, are laughing themselves to death; or, lastly, it is a paralytical distemper, which, seizing the arm, the man cannot chuse but shake his elbow. It hath this ill property above all other Vices, that it renders a man incapable of prosecuting any serious action, and makes him always unsatisfied with his own condition; he is either lifted up to the top of mad joy with success, or plung’d to the bottom of despair by misfortune, always in extreams, always in a storm; this minute the Gamester’s countenance is so serene and calm, that one would think nothing could disturb it, and the next minute, so stormy and tempestuous that it threatens destruction to itself and others; and, as he is transported with joy when he wins, so, losing, is he tost upon the billows of a high swelling passion, till he hath lost sight, both of sense and reason.” Gambling, as distinguished from Gaming, or playing, I take to mean an indulgence in those games, or exercises, in which chance assumes a more important character; and my object is to draw attention to the fact, that the money motive increases, as chance predominates over skill. It is taken up as a quicker road to wealth than by pursuing honest industry, and everyone engaged in it, be it dabbling on the Stock Exchange, Betting on Horse Racing, or otherwise, hopes to win, for it is clear that if he knew he should lose, no fool would embark in it. The direct appropriation of other people’s property to one’s own use, is, undoubtedly, the more simple, but it has the disadvantage of being both vulgar and dangerous; so we either appropriate our neighbour’s goods, or he does ours, by gambling with him, for it is certain that if one gains, the other loses. The winner is not reverenced, and the loser is not pitied. But it is a disease that is most contagious, and if a man is known to have made a lucky coup, say, on the Stock Exchange, hundreds rush in to follow his example, as they would were a successful gold field discovered—the warning of those that perish by the way is unheeded.”

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