Abstract

Ellen Wilkinson was a key radical figure in the 20th century British socialist and feminist movement, a woman of passionate energy who was involved in most of the major struggles of her time.

Born in October 1891 into a working-class textile family, Wilkinson was involved in women's suffrage, helped found the British Communist Party, led the Labour Party's anti-fascist campaign, headed the iconic Jarrow Crusade and was the first female Minister of Education.

In this lively and engaging biography, Paula Bartley charts the political life of this extraordinary campaigner who went from street agitator to government minister whilst keeping her principles intact.
'Paula Bartley shines a dazzling light on the life of 'Red' Ellen Wilkinson, a pioneering feminist and socialist Member of Parliament'
Diane Atkinson, author of 'The Criminal Conversation of Mrs Norton'
'Clear, concise, and lively, and provides an interesting introductory insight into one of the lesser-known figures of the Labour Left'
Gordon Bannerman, LSE Review of Books
'Engaging and timely'
Cercles: Revue Pluridisciplinaire du Monde Anglophone
'A passionate case for the relevance of 'Red Ellen' to the twenty-first century'
Karen Hunt, Professor of Modern British History, Keele University
'Perfectly captures the essence of Ellen Wilkinson's unorthodox approach to politics. Paula Bartley's account of Ellen Wilkinson's passionate commitment to improve the lives of poor and vulnerable people will not fail to inspire'
Mark Fisher, former Labour MP for Stoke on Trent