Labour legends and Russian gold

Kevin Morgan, Lawrence & Wishart, paperback, 315 pages, £18.99

In the first of a three-volume series, Morgan presents a fascinating account of the relationship between the Soviet Union and the developing British labour movement, with a particular focus on funding and political resources.

It examines to what extent Soviet support was provided to organisations such as the Labour Research Department and the Daily Herald during this period.

The chapter on LRD pays tribute to the enormous contributions of previous members of staff such as Noreen Branson and Roger Simon. The other two volumes in the series are The Webbs and Soviet communism and Workers of all countries? Syndicalism, internationalism and the lost world of AA Purcell.