Williams believed that making connections between politics, economics, education and culture was a continuing critical task. John and Lizzie Eldridge adopt this spirit in undertaking a critical exploration of every aspect Williams’ work. This book is the fullest and most sustained treatment of his work currently available. It spans his fiction and non-fiction, his contributions to drama, film, literary criticism, sociology, cultural studies, media studies and politics. Williams was a socialist intellectual with a complex relationship to Marxism. At a time when the socialist project is on the defensive, Williams’ own wary utopianism and commitment to an educated, participatory democracy warrants careful re-examination. This book fulfils this task. It also re-examines his sharp critiques of modernity and post-modernity and evaluates the worth of his work on culture and communications.