Six Lost Leaders

Book excerpt: In his new book, George W. Liebmann discusses the work of six largely forgotten figures: Octavia Hill, William Glyn-Jones, Mary Richmond, George William Brown, Mary Parker Follet, and Bryan Keith-Lucas. Three are British; three American. Some came from affluent backgrounds; some grew up poor. One was barely educated; another spent eleven years at some of the world's more prestigious institutions of higher learning. What united them all was a shared conviction that citizenship involved more than voting, that society consists of more than the marketplace or political institutions, and that professional values are important for shaping a civil discourse. With a sympathetic eye toward the fulfillment of these common aspirations, Liebmann looks at the national health, social work, housing management, and educational initiatives spearheaded by these powerful figures over the past two centuries. This study is a fascinating retort to our cynical age of political disillusionment and an innovative contribution to social and political history.