Austerity in Britain Rationing, Controls, and Consumption, 1939-1955 [Hardcover]

Austerity in Britainis the first book to explore the entire episode of rationing, austerity, and fair shares from 1939 until 1955. These policies were central to the British war effort and to post-war reconstruction. The book analyzes the connections between government policy, consumption, gender, and party politics during and after the Second World War. It qualifies the myth of common sacrifice on the home front and highlights the limitations of the fairshares policy which failed to achieve genuine equality between classes or between men and women. The continuation of rationing and austerity policies after 1945 was central to party politics. Disaffection, particularly among women, undermined Labour's popularity while the Conservatives' critique of austerity was instrumental to the party's victories at the general elections of 1951 and 1955.

[T]he austerity regime has not attracted the academic study it deserves, and this scholarly and thoroughly researched book by Ina Zweiniger-Bargielowska will, therefore, be widely welcomed. She challenges received opinion in several ways and has much of interest to say for students of war, British administration, women, and party-political history...Readers ofAusterity in Britainwill particularly enjoy the detailed discussion of the black market. --Martin Pugh,Times Literature Supplement

At last we have a full history.Austerity in Britainis required reading for anyone who thinks that utility furniture and pencil-line stockings say it all. --Richard Overy,The Sunday Telegraph