In recent years, no Western democracy has been more devoted to money worship than Britain.

We now live in a market state. Is the notion of a common good gone forever? Here, David Marquand shows how we can take back the public realm.

'Compellingly readable . . . no one can afford to ignore it.' John Gray, Literary Review

'One of the most original political thinkers of his generation.' Peter Oborne, Daily Telegraph

'The 'marketisation' of politics . . . not only erodes our political health, it actually makes us worse people; and Marquand has no qualms about such fierce judgements of value.' Rowan Williams, New Statesman

'No one has voiced the anxiety of the progressive citizen with greater passion or power.' Kenneth O. Morgan, Independent