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"This ... new history tells the story of one [of] the greatest transformations in British intellectual, social and political life: the creation of the welfare state, from the Victorian workhouse, where you had to be destitute to receive help, to a moment just after the Second World War, when government embraced responsibility for people's housing, education, health and family life, a commitment that was unimaginable just a century earlier. Though these changes were driven by developments in different and sometimes unexpected currents in British life, they were linked by one over-arching idea: that through rational and purposeful intervention, government can remake society. It was an idea that, during the early twentieth century, came to inspire people across the political spectrum."--Jacket

Exploring the intellectual origins of British sociology, this book uncovers previously unknown archival resources that highlight the field's connections to late nineteenth and early twentieth-century biological debates. By revealing these forgotten roots, it sheds light on the evolution of sociology and its future possibilities, offering a fresh perspective on how historical discussions have shaped contemporary sociological thought.