About this episode

This episode features a discussion with historian Martin Wright about the history of the British labor movement as explored in his book.

This week on Labor History Today (originally broadcast 1/11/2026), Simon Sapper talks with historian Martin Wright, co-author of Made by Labour: A Material and Visual History of British Labor, 1780–1924. The book traces the rise of the world’s first modern labor movement through banners, boxes, coins, tools, and images created by working people during the Industrial Revolution and beyond—right up to the moment labor stood on the brink of political power in the 1920s.Questions, comments, or suggestions are welcome, and to find out how you can be a part of Labor History Today, email us at LaborHistoryToday@gmail.com Labor History Today is produced by the Labor Heritage Foundation and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor. #LaborRadioPod #History #WorkingClass #ClassStruggle @GeorgetownKILWP #LaborHistory @UMDMLA @ILLaborHistory @AFLCIO @StrikeHistory #LaborHistory @wrkclasshistory

People in this episode

Host: Simon Sapper

Guest: Martin Wright

Topics covered

• British labor history
• Industrial Revolution
• labor movement
• political power
• working class

Keywords

• labor history
• British labor
• Industrial Revolution
• working people
• political power
• labor movement

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Labor Heritage Foundation, Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor

Books & works: Made by Labour: A Material and Visual History of British Labor, 1780–1924

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