'Pavements Grey of the Imprisoning City': The Articulation of a Pro-Rural and Anti-Urban Ideology in the Youth Hostels Association in the 1930s. Issue 1 (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cunningham, Michael
• Is Part Of: Literature & history. Volume 25:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 56
• Page End: 75
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Youth hostels -- ideology -- walking -- rambling -- ruralism -- urbanism; English literature -- History and criticism -- Periodicals; Literature and history -- Periodicals; Literature -- History and criticism -- Periodicals; Ideology and literature -- Periodicals; Politics and literature -- Periodicals; Literature -- Periodicals; 820.9
• DOI: 10.1177/0306197316634904
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-1973

Abstract

The Youth Hostels Association was a self-professed non-political organisation that promoted the provision of cheap accommodation for walkers and cyclists. Despite this non-political stance, the literature of the YHA in the 1930s reveals a consistent pro-rural and anti-urban ideology. This article examines the articulation of this ideology and locates it both within a longer tradition of such sentiments in England and also within the social and cultural concerns of the decade.