Feeling the Strain: A Cultural History of Stress in Twentieth-Century Britain

This book explores how ordinary Britons understood, explained, and coped with the pressures and strains of daily life during the twentieth century, tracing the popular, vernacular discourse of stress and offering insight into self-help literature, work, and domestic life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 19 July 2019
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Examining the pervasive discourse of nerves and stress, this comprehensive book delves into a historical exploration of how ordinary Britons grappled with the pressures and strains of daily life throughout the twentieth century. It traces the evolution of the popular, vernacular discourse surrounding stress, shedding light on not only how stress was perceived but also the processes through which such knowledge was generated. By adopting a cultural lens, the book centers its attention on contemporary popular understandings, unveiling the enduring themes of work, mental health, status, gender, and individual weakness, as well as the shifting socio-economic contexts that facilitated the widespread emergence of stress as a ubiquitous aspect of everyday existence by the close of the century. Through captivating accounts from individuals who have experienced stress, their families, and colleagues, the book also provides valuable insights into self-help literature, the meanings of work, and the evolving dynamics of domestic life, offering a complementary perspective to medical histories of stress.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 144 x 223 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526123299