Paul F. Tyler is Associate Research Fellow at the Working Lives Research Institute, London Metropolitan University.

• AcknowledgementsAbbreviationsIntroductionPart One: Local Activist and Labour Pioneer 1852-1907Will Crooks of PoplarGuardian of the PoorUnemployment and the Poor LawWoolwich and independent Labour representationPart Two: Labour Pioneer and Member of Parliament 1903-19215Member for Woolwich6Role in Parliament and the General Elections of 19107Returns to the Parliamentary Fray8War and PeaceReferences and NotesBibliographyIndex

'Paul Tyler's biography of [a] quintessential Labour stalwart who never quite made it to the top is an excellent read ... Will Crooks (1851-1921) is a name that will not ring many bells, even among the Labour faithful - though it ought to and, indeed, now should do, with the publication of this deeply researched and carefully considered life.' - Denis Judd, Professor of Imperial and Commonwealth History at London Metropolitan University, and author of 'Empire' and 'George 17' (both I.B.Tauris) '...an impressive study of one of Labour's early leaders.' - Keith Laybourn, Professor of History at the University of Huddersfield