The new edition of a classic text explores the diversity of social developments in Britain from 1945 to 2002, including high and popular culture, family, race, gender, and class relations, as well as sexual behaviors and material conditions. Criticism recognizes the work as "something of a tour de force," commenting on the ease with which the author manages a wide range of sources, from poetry to films and novels, without serious distortion or omission. It is considered "a delightful, readable, and utilitarian performance that leads the field."