Opening the Books - Geoff Andrews

'This collection is a real achievement and sets a new standard which other historians of the left will need to match' Nick Tiratsoo, New Times

'Serious students of British communist history will be glad to have [Opening the Books] on their shelves' Peter Fryer, Workers Press

'This book could be of value as a source for some aspects of the early history of the CPGB' Morning Star

A judicous blending of praise and blame.
Sue Bradley is very interesting on the Lancashire women who made up the majority of the county's over half a million cotton workers.
Nina Fishman is equally good on the 1926-56 trade union movement as a whole.
Mike Waite adds a well-informed study of the dubious youth culture of the 1960's.
But the CP, Eric Hobsbawn emphasizes in a postscript to Opening the Books, was a far from negligible force, and ought not to be forgotten.
History Today, Dec '95