Traveller, boxer and fascist : the identities of Joe Beckett
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Joe Beckett carved his boxing career. Whilst there were many pugilists that represented Britain and Europe in the heavyweight championship title bouts during this era, Beckett's identity was unique. Born into a travelling Showperson family and boxing in the fairground booths from a young age, he was discovered by his long term manager in his late teens and catapulted into professional fighting. However, Beckett's remarkable Traveller and boxing career was not the only exceptional aspect of his life: his prominent involvement with the British Union of Fascists in the late 1930s ensured his detention under the British government's Regulation 18b in 1940. Beckett's life will be put into the wider context of British social, political and cultural history between 1850 to 1965. This study, of a traveller, his career as a professional boxer and British fascist is also explored through the concept of masculinity, adding further to the making and remaking of Beckett's identity. The thesis is divided into three main sections. First racial, ethnic and national identity; second, masculinity; and third fascism. Within these three sections themes including national identity,
Lewis-Vidler, Jennifer Ruth
Traveller, boxer and fascist : the identities of Joe Beckett. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Joe Beckett carved his boxing career. Whilst there were many pugilists that represented Britain and Europe in the heavyweight championship title bouts during this era, Beckett's identity was unique. Born into a travelling Showperson family and boxing in the fairground booths from a young age, he was discovered by his long term manager in his late teens and catapulted into professional fighting. However, Beckett's remarkable Traveller and boxing career was not the only exceptional aspect of his life: his prominent involvement with the British Union of Fascists in the late 1930s ensured his detention under the British government's Regulation 18b in 1940. Beckett's life will be put into the wider context of British social, political and cultural history between 1850 to 1965. This study, of a traveller, his career as a professional boxer and British fascist is also explored through the concept of masculinity, adding further to the making and remaking of Beckett's identity. The thesis is divided into three main sections. First racial, ethnic and national identity; second, masculinity; and third fascism. Within these three sections themes including national identity,
traveller fascist identity carve box career whilst many represent britain_europe title era identity unique born travel family box young_age discover long_term manager late professional fighting however remarkable traveller box career exceptional aspect_life prominent involvement british union ensure detention british_government regulation life put wide_context british social_political cultural_history study traveller career professional british fascist also_explore concept masculinity add make remake identity divide_three main_section first racial ethnic national_identity second masculinity third fascism within three_section theme_include national_identity