The Common Man as Hero; THE MAKING OF THE ENGLISH WORKING CLASS By E. P. Thomp­son. 848 pp. New York: Pantheon Books. $15. - The New York Times

FROM the Middle Ages to the time of the American Revolution aristocratic interpretations dominated the writing of English history. In the 19th century Whig and Liberal interpretations were in the ascendant. And in the 20th century socialist interpretations have come into their own. David Hume at last gave way to Macaulay, John Richard Green and Sir George Otto Trevelyan, who in turn made room for R. H. Tawny, G. D. H. Cole, and their spiritual heirs. For several years now Edward Palmer Thompson of Leeds University, the author of a lively and opinionated biography of William Morris, has stood out as one of Britain's angry young socialist historians. With the publication of this new book he shows every sign of becoming not just an angry middle‐aged historian but one of the leaders of the British historical profession. Tory and Liberal historians have no choice but to take into account what he has to say—although it can be safely predicted that they will disagree heartily with dozens of t

FROM the Middle Ages to the time of the American Revolution aristocratic interpretations dominated the writing of English history. In the 19th century Whig and Liberal interpretations were in the ascendant. And in the 20th century socialist interpretations have come into their own. David Hume at last gave way to Macaulay, John Richard Green and Sir George Otto Trevelyan, who in turn made room for R. H. Tawny, G. D. H. Cole, and their spiritual heirs. For several years now Edward Palmer Thompson of Leeds University, the author of a lively and opinionated biography of William Morris, has stood o