大象传媒

This year is the hundredth anniversary of the Russian Revolution - actually two revolutions - which marked the birth of the communist Soviet Union. In the first of two programmes, historian Peter Stead explores the link between the then growing Marxist movement and the socialist workers' education movements in the south Wales coalfield.

He follows the roots of revolution back to the end of the 19th century, a period when the working-class masses had become a major concern for the rapidly urbanising and industrialising nations of Europe. In the south Wales coalfield, the rise of trade unions, working class parties and socialist ideas sustained the fear that revolution was imminent. And, as Peter finds out, the seeds of those socialist ideas were being honed in the very heart of the 'establishment' - under the dreaming spires of Oxford.