Using archive material, this book examines the prehistory of cultural studies in Britain. It traces its roots in adult education, and especially in the world of Raymond Williams, E.P. Thompson and Richard Hoggart, who all worked in this field. All three worked in a context in which popular culture and inter-disciplinarity was important, and where English studies was broadened to embrace a range of material and experience not included in the Leavisite definitions. This led to a preoccupation with the term "culture" in its many meanings, and especially in its relationship to Englishness. Eventually, this preoccupation developed into a new area of study, and to the setting up of the Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies. Drawing on archival materials as well as contemporary history and analysis, Tom Steele provides an account of the overlapping interests which combined together to produce a completely new area of study.