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Britain is obsessed with class.

Possibly more than any other country in the world.

And the left, naturally, is also obsessed with class. It's central to our politics.

But I've had a suspicion for quite a while that we don't quite get it right when it comes to understanding class in the 21st century.

Something's missing in our analysis.

And a book has been published which has crystallized much of my own thinking.

It said things I wanted to say.

It is called a Nation of Shopkeepers, the unstoppable rise of the petty bourgeoisie.

Its author is Dan Evans.

And Dan is today's guest on Downstream.

Dan Evans, welcome.

Thank you for having me, mate.

We are talking today about your brilliant book, a Nation of Shopkeepers, the unstoppable rise of the petty bourgeoisie.

It sounds quite pointy-headed.

It is a little bit.

But I think the political takeaways from it are anything.

...