Books and resources
Whether you are looking for contemporary accounts, historical analysis or digitised archival material, the following resources are a good place to start.
TUC Library collections
The TUC Library Collections, held at London Metropolitan University, have digitised a number of materials related to the General Strike that can be accessed online. Their collections include pamphlets, reports, personal reflections and other documents produced during or shortly after the events of 1926.
One notable item in the collection is A Nation on Strike: First Thoughts on 1926 by Walter Milne-Bailey.
Written in the months following the strike, Milne-Bailey — then head of the TUC’s Research Department — recorded his personal reflections on the events and their wider implications. His account provides a rare contemporary perspective from within the trade union movement, capturing both the immediate aftermath of the strike and the thinking of TUC leadership at the time. More information
New books published for the centenary
Several new books have been published to mark the 100th anniversary of the General Strike, offering fresh research and perspectives on this pivotal moment in British history.
Nine Days in May: The General Strike of 1926 - Jonathan Schneer
Price £25.00
This book tells the story of how Britain was brought to a halt by the General Strike, drawing on a wealth of archival sources. Schneer explores why the strike began, how it unfolded and the reasons it ultimately ended after nine days.
The Edge of Revolution: The General Strike that Shook Britain - David Torrance
Price £18.00
Although the strike lasted only nine days, it left a lasting legacy in British politics and industrial relations. In this centenary study, Torrance recreates the dramatic events of May 1926 through the voices and experiences of those who lived through it, drawing on extensive archival research.
Britain’s Revolutionary Summer: The General Strike of 1926 - Edd Mustill
Price £16.99
Published to coincide with the strike’s centenary, this book explores why millions of workers walked out in support of the miners and how the government responded. Mustill examines the political tensions and social forces that shaped one of the most significant industrial disputes in British history.
Library and archive collections
The Modern Records Centre at the University of Warwick, TUC Library Collections at London Metropolitan University and Peoples History Museum hold some of the most significant archival collections relating to the General Strike.
These archives include union records, personal papers, pamphlets, newspapers, photographs and other historical materials that provide valuable insight into the events of 1926 and the wider labour movement.
Researchers, students and anyone interested in labour history are encouraged to explore these collections to learn more about the experiences of workers, unions and communities during the strike and the lasting legacy it left on Britain’s industrial and political landscape.
Warwick Modern Records Centre
The Modern Records Centre hosts a rich digital collection exploring the 1926 General Strike through contemporary accounts and original sources.
The collection brings together 550 digitised documents relating to the General Strike, including strike bulletins, radio broadcasts and internal TUC reports, offering a unique insight into how the strike unfolded and how it was communicated at the time.
Alongside written sources, the archive also includes historic photographs and visual materials, as well as a day-by-day timeline of events, helping to build a detailed picture of the nine days that brought Britain to a standstill.
