Radical Culture

Set in a climate of intense surveillance and regulation between 1790 and 1820, this work explores the rise of ultra-radical artisans influenced by Thomas Spence's revolutionary ideas advocating for corporate land ownership and government overthrow. The Spenceans emerged as a significant political force, with notable figures like William Blake, Jeremy Bentham, and Percy Shelley being monitored for their suspected affiliations. The book delves into the intersection of radical thought and state control during this tumultuous period in England's history.