Description
Join historian Edmond Smith for a compelling exploration of how West Yorkshire’s ingenuity helped shape Britain’s rise to global prominence.
Drawing on his acclaimed book Ruthless, Smith examines how the pursuit of profit and expansion transformed economic life between 1660 and 1800, from the mills and mines of Yorkshire to far-reaching global trade networks.
Using often-overlooked archives from Bradford, Leeds and Halifax, this talk reveals the region’s central role in Britain’s economic transformation. Challenging traditional narratives of the Industrial Revolution, Smith argues that technology alone did not drive change.
Instead, it was people, power and interconnected networks that fuelled Britain’s growth and influence.
Insightful and thought-provoking, this event offers a fresh perspective on Yorkshire’s place in global history, showing how local innovation and ambition helped reshape the world and leaving audiences with a deeper understanding of the forces behind Britain’s rise.
Related Book
Ruthless: A New History of Britain’s Rise to Wealth and Power, 1660-1800
Edmond Smith
Shop on WaterstonesAbout the Author
Edmond Smith
Edmond Smith was born and raised in the West Midlands, where the remnants of Britain’s industrial history supplied a poignant introduction to Britain’s economic past, and now based in West Yorkshire. Smith received a PhD in History at the University of Cambridge. They are now Professor of Economic Cultures at The University of Manchester, author of Merchants: The Community That Shaped England’s Trade and Empire, 1550-1650 and winner of the 2023 Ralph Gomory Prize. Their latest book is Ruthless: A New History of Britain’s Rise to Wealth and Power, 1660-1800 published by Yale University Press.
Join Our Mailing List
By submitting this form you agree to our Privacy Policy and to receive marketing emails, including e-newsletters and event updates from Bradford Literature Festival.