What can a children’s essay assignment tell us about the hopes and dreams of a generation of schoolgirls? Dr Huw Halstead is joined by Professor Claire Langhamer and Professor Hester Barron to discuss their book ‘Class of ’37: Voices from Working-class Girlhood’, published in 2021. Hester and Claire take us through the writing of the book, from the use of mass observation reports and the essay prompts of a classroom of schoolgirls in Bolton, to oral history interviews with their descendants and the structural and tense choices made when writing a book their mums could read.

More information about ‘Class of ’37: Voices from Working-class Girlhood’ can be found here: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/55855

This podcast was originally published on 5th February 2024 as part of the ERC research project ‘Dictatorship as experience: A comparative history of everyday life and the ‘lived experience’ of dictatorship in Mediterranean Europe (1922-1975)’ led by Prof. Kate Ferris at the University of St Andrews. To learn more about the wider project, visit: ⁠arts.st-andrews.ac.uk/everyday-dictatorship/⁠

Hosted by: Dr Huw Halstead

Produced by: Islay Shelbourne

Music by: Oi Palaiológoi (Violin - Roddy Beaton, Outi - David Hughes)