Leisure in a Democracy

Originally published in 1949, this book contains the text of the sixth annual lecture of the National Book League, delivered the previous year by the Liberal politician Viscount Samuel. Samuel considers what the ‘right use’ of leisure might be in an age where an increasing number of workers were being granted to access to free time through shorter working hours and annual paid leave, and suggests that idleness is only advisable in small doses, with the rest of the time to be spent in self-improvement and education. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of labour and leisure.