At first glance, Britain in 2007 could not differ more from the Britain of 1907. Our perception of Edwardian society is clear. Socially, Edwardians were laughably formal. Explicit rules of etiquette governed all situations an Edwardian lady or gentleman might encounter. They wore distinct clothes for every activity. Ladies spent up to five hours a day just changing, and to be seen outside without gloves and hat was quite unconscionable. In circles, old-fashioned even then, chair legs would be covered to avoid arousal (very sensible if you ask me). Edwardian pastimes, too, seem rather quaint. Backgammon was preferred to Pokémon. Their idea of a good time was tapestry making, croquet, or perhaps a stroll around the grounds of one’s house. That is pretty tame compared with ‘happy slapping’ your class mates, and then posting the results on YouTube.

Politically too, Edwardians seem a world apart. Despite some reform, the electoral franchise was still tightly restricted to men of at least a little property. Political correctness was entirely alien to them: indeed discourse was openly racist, sexist and quite bombastically colonial. Many educated people were social Darwinists, arguing that Africans’ poverty was proof of their genetic inferiority. Governing natives was, frankly, a bit of a chore: what Kipling bemoaned as

The White Man’s Burden.

Edwardian Britain’s economy was also radically different. Heavy industry dominated: coal in Wales; steel in Sheffield; shipping in Scotland. In 1900 the Clyde built one in every five ships launched in the world. In the countryside, traditional farming predominated. Horses, not tractors, still drew bales along country lanes. This was a society without iPods, or BlackBerrys, space flight or atomic power. Most people lived in crowded tenements or rotting cottages without running water, electricity, or that mark of proper civilisation, the indoor lavatory.

Modern society is a million miles away from all that. Television, celebrity gossip, advertising and health and safety regulation mark our culture. Old codes of conduct have been swept away. Whalebone and starch are long gone. White tie and morning dress have all but disappeared. Instead we flaunt casual wear to all occasions, eschewing even suits and ties in favour of pre-distressed denim and scuffed trainers. We are self-doubting, organic, fairly traded, rainforest friendly, sustainably harvested softies. Edwardian Britain was ebullient, confident and successful. We, it seems, are not.