Flapjacks and Feudalism: Social Mobility and Class in The Archers

Flapjacks and Feudalism: Social Mobility and Class in The Archers explores the family and class politics of the residents of Ambridge, focusing on the Fall of the House of Aldridge and the parenting skills of the Ambridge clans. It shows how housing, intergenerational wealth, skills, and access to employment shape life chances.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 16 March 2021
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited

Flapjacks and Feudalism: Social Mobility and Class in The Archers is an in-depth exploration of the family and class dynamics within the clans of the residents of Ambridge, featured in BBC Radio 4's The Archers. The book delves into a comprehensive section dedicated to the downfall of the House of Aldridge, examining Brian's ethical transgressions and his descent from grace. It explores the strategies Brian could have employed to conceal his scandals and alter the prevailing perceptions of him as a reckless farmer. Furthermore, the book scrutinizes the parenting abilities, or lack thereof, of the Ambridge clans, using these observations to predict future leaders of Ambridge. Chapters within the book delve into the influence of family and community networks, the suppression of the Grundys by the lords of the manor, and Emma Grundy's housing challenges, emphasizing the significance of housing in the success and well-being of the village inhabitants. This book uncovers the profound impact of housing, intergenerational wealth, skills, and access to employment on the life chances of characters, highlighting that, perhaps more than anywhere else, it is not merely what one knows but who one knows that shapes one's opportunities.

Weight: 414g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800713895