A History of Work and Time in Europe

This book challenges conventional narratives about the evolution of working hours in Western Europe, offering a fresh perspective on the complex mosaic of actual working time. By examining the historical and sociological dimensions of labour from the fourteenth to the nineteenth century, it challenges the oversimplified view that work evolved over three main periods: the pre-industrial era when working time was not measured; the advent of industrialisation when work dramatically increased; and the period after 1850, when it began to decline. In doing so, the book invites readers to reconsider the ideas of influential thinkers such as Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Michel Foucault. Key concepts explored include the division of labour, work ethic, and the impact of industrialisation. Through meticulous micro-historical case studies, the authors reconstruct the temporal realities of work in Europe, with a focus on France, Belgium, and Italy. This approach provides a ground-level view of labour, revealing the nuanced realities of working hours along with work duration and intensity. Ideal for historians, sociologists, and scholars of labour studies, this volume offers a bridge between the various historiographies of work, and encourages dialogue across periods and regions. It is an essential resource for anyone interested in the historical depth of contemporary issues like productivity and work-life balance.