Club Government: How the Early Victorian World was Ruled from London Clubs (International Library of Colonial History)

The book phenomenon of `Club Government' in the mid-nineteenth century, when many of the functions of government were alleged to have taken place behind closed doors, in the secretive clubs of London's St. James's district, has not been adequately historicized. Despite `Club Government' being referenced in most major political histories of the period, it is a topic which has never before enjoyed a full-length study. Making use of previously-sealed club archives, and adopting a broad range of analytical techniques, this work of political history, social history, sociology and quantitative approaches to history seeks to deepen our understanding of the distinctive and novel ways in which British political culture evolved in this period. The book concludes that historians have hugely underestimated the extent of club influence on `high politics' in Westminster, and though the reputation of clubs for intervening in elections was exaggerated, the culture and secrecy involved in gentleman's clubs had a huge impact on Britain and the British Empire. "'Club government' was a fixation of the period: press accounts, diarists, and writers such as Dickens, Disraeli and Trollope all advanced the view that key political decisions were taken behind closed doors, in the clubs of London's St James's district. Yet despite 'club government' being referenced in most major political histories of the period, the topic has never before enjoyed a full-length study. Making use of previously-sealed club archives, and adopting a broad range of analytical techniques, this work of political history, social history, sociology and quantitative approaches to history seeks to deepen our understanding of the distinctive and novel ways in which British political culture evolved in this period. The book concludes that historians have hugely underestimated the extent of club influence on 'high politics' in Westminster, and though the reputation of clubs for intervening in elections was exaggerated, the culture and secrecy involved in gentleman's clubs had a huge impact on Britain and the British Empire."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Contents 9 List of Illustrations 11 Acknowledgements 15 Introduction 21 Chapter 1 the Development of Political Clubs 41 Chapter 2 Clubs and the MPs' World I: A Quantitative Analysis 70 Chapter 3 Clubs and the MPs' World II: Experiences in Clubland Space 120 Chapter 4 Clubs as an MP's Base: Accommodation, Dining, Information and Organisational Support 161 Chapter 5 Clubs and Whips in the House of Commons 176 Chapter 6 Clubs and Electoral Interventions 195 Conclusion 229 Appendix Appendix to Chapter 2: List of Sources Used in the Database of Club Memberships for MPs Who Sat in the House of Commons 239 Notes 243 Bibliography 302 Index 321 List of Illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Chapter 1. The Development of Political Clubs -- Chapter 2. Clubs and the Mps' World I: A Quantitative Analysis -- Chapter 3. Clubs and The Mps' World II: Experiences in Clubland Space -- Chapter 4. Clubs as an MP's Base: Accommodation, Dining, Information and Organisational Support -- Chapter 5. Clubs and Whips in the House of Commons -- Chapter 6. Clubs and Electoral Interventions -- Conclusion -- Appendix to Chapter 2: List of Sources Used in the Database of Club Memberships for MPs Who sat in the House of Commons in 1832-68 -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index The Development Of Political Clubs -- Clubs And The Mps' World I : A Quantitative Analysis -- Clubs And The Mps' World Ii : Experiences In Clubland Space -- Clubs As An Mp's Base : Accommodation, Dining, Information And Organisational Support -- Clubs And Whips In The House Of Commons -- Clubs And Electoral Interventions -- Appendix : Appendix To Chapter 2 : List Of Sources Used In The Database Of Club Memberships For Mps Who Sat In The House Of Commons In 1832-68. Seth Alexander Thévoz. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 223-300) And Index.