Publication details for Dr David Craig

Craig, David (2012). The origins of ‘liberalism’ in Britain: the case of The Liberal. Historical Research 85(229): 469-487.

• Publication type: Journal Article
• ISSN/ISBN: 0950-3471, 1468-2281
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2281.2012.00601.x
• Further publication details on publisher web site
• Durham Research Online (DRO) - may include full text

Author(s) from Durham

• Dr David Craig

Abstract

This article examines the public reception of the periodical The Liberal to establish how the language of ‘liberalism’ began to develop in Britain in the eighteen-twenties. It shows that Hunt, Byron and Shelley had difficulty establishing a claim to this terminology partly because the conventional meanings of the word ‘liberality’– as in generosity and gentlemanliness – could be turned against their contributions, and partly because of their existing reputations as subversive, irreligious Epicureans. As a result, The Liberal helped to establish a negative typology of ‘liberalism’ that quickly gathered force among reactionaries.