In this book Cobbett's writing and its influence on public opinion and high government is closely examined. The authors explain how his origins and prejudices moulded him into the dominant voice of romantic reactionary Toryism, and show how important he was to the English resistance to the alien ideologies that swept the world in his times. Among the topics considered are Cobbett's writings on all the great crises of his age; his views on Education, Ireland and the state of the English countryside; his relations with Sir Frances Burdett and other magnates; his own anti-Semitism, and, crucially, his reactionary Utopian vision. Anyone wishing to understand the condition of England and the way in which it responded to crises at home and overseas will find this book essential reading. Contents: 1. Introduction; 2. The progress of William Cobbett, 1800-1806; 3. Cobbett's role in the Catholic Emancipation Crisis; 4. Cobbett and the Corn Laws; 5. Cobbett and Ireland; 6. Cobbett and Sir Frances Burdett; 7. Cobbett and English Education; 8. Cobbett and John Cartwright; 9. Cobbett: The Rural Rider in Decline; 10. The Ideal Society of William Cobbett; Bibliography; Index D