Dumfries author writes second book on town's "organised" working class in the 19th century

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Dumfries author Ian Gasse has written a second book in his quest to reclaim the history of the town’s “organised” working class in the 19th century.Mobbings, Struggles and Strikes will be launched during Scottish Book Week at a two-day event in Dumfries’ Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre on Friday and Saturday, November 18 and 19.In articles ranging from food riots through to the increased industrial disputes on the threshold of the First World War, the book traces various working class attempts to secure the vote, establish trade unions and win better pay and working conditions – all through different kinds of collective action.The book follows his history of the 19th century co-operative movement in Dumfries, Something to Build On, which was released last year.Both have been produced in association with the Scottish Labour History Society.During the pandemic in 2020, Ian also produced a free booklet, Uncovering Working Lives, which provides a history trail around Dumfries and Maxwelltown, highlighting significant locations connected with the working-class history of the then two towns.Ian, who has spent the past nine years painstakingly researching the books, said: “Like its companion volume, Something to Build On, my new book seeks to rescue some of the forgotten history of the organised working class of Dumfries and Maxwelltown.“For both books the major source material has been the old newspapers of Dumfries and Galloway: Dumfries Weekly Journal (1777-1831), Dumfries and Galloway Courier (1809-84), Dumfries Times (1833-43), Dumfries and Galloway Herald and Advertiser/Register (1835-83), Dumfries and Galloway Standard and Advertiser (1843 onwards), Dumfries and Galloway Courier and Herald(1884 onwards), Galloway