As the nature and depth of our friendships comes under scrutiny in an era of Social Networking, a timely history of friendship over the centuries.

Dr Thomas Dixon traces the idea of friendship as a form of practical self-help back to the Friendly Societies of the 18th and 19th centuries. At their peak, there were 9000 of these grass-roots institutions - many with quaint, archaic names, such as The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows - and it is estimated that 40% of the adult male population belonged to one - mobilising the power of friendship in a sort of forerunner of the Welfare State.

The importance of the idea of friendship emerges through the colourful vocabulary of friendship in the period - from cronies, trumps and bloaters to culliles, marrows and rib-stones, and the more familiar, chums and pals.

With contributions from Dr Helen Rogers and Professor Hugh Cunningham.

Producer: Beaty Rubens

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2014. Show less