The Autobiography of Arthur Woodburn (1890-1978): Living with History

Arthur Woodburn’s autobiography provides an exceptionally rich insight into the development of labour politics in Scotland in the first half of the twentieth century, into the experience of coalition government during the Second World War and of reconstruction and the government of Scotland in its aftermath. Woodburn was prominent within the labour movement and the Labour Party, but unlike many of his contemporaries his autobiography was never published at the time. It records his Edinburgh childhood, his route to socialism, his imprisonment as a conscientious objector during the First World War, educational and journalistic activities as well as his official roles in the Labour Party and government during the 1930s and 40s. This volume provides a clear annotated modern edition of Woodburn’s text, together with a full scholarly introduction explaining the historical significance of the autobiography and Woodburn himself.