This work investigates the complex interplay of class, race, and gender in post-war Britain to determine how these social stratifications have shaped the national identity. E. Cashmore utilizes a sociological framework to analyze the shifting power dynamics within the United Kingdom from 1945 to the present. By examining institutional structures and cultural shifts, the author argues that these three pillars of identity remain the primary drivers of inequality and social friction in modern British society.

Experts recognize this text as a comprehensive overview of British social stratification during the latter half of the twentieth century. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which makes it a useful reference for students of sociology and modern British history.