"The inter-war period in which Winifred Holtby wrote saw great changes in ideas of social responsibility, class, gender roles and imperialism. The main aim of this study is to trace Holtby's social ideology, from her early work in the 1920s until her death, placing it in the context of wider social change. It is the first monograph to provide a literary criticism of Holtby's social philosophy and presents in-depth readings of all her major works as well as some of her less well-known writing." -- Back cover.