This book was inspired by Peter Townsend and is dedicated to him. The shock of his death, in June 2009, quickly translated into a widely held determination to ensure that his work and, especially, its core message concerning the need for social justice, was not lost to current and future generations of students, and policy makers. Therefore the book serves as an introduction to Peter's work. It is not merely a festschrift because it does more than celebrate Peter's massive contributions. It builds on the sure foundations that he laid in various fields and applies his myriad insights to contemporary policy debates.

The book reflects Peter's triple contributions, to teaching, research and campaigning, which were all, in essence, concerned with combating poverty, inequality and social injustice. It comprises a rallying call to defeat these evils and to create a better, more cohesive society. It also reminds everyone – policy makers, politicians, media and the public – why there is a welfare state and why the case for it must be repeated constantly alongside critiques of its failings and constructive proposals for improvement.

This book would not have been possible without the help and support of various colleagues and friends. First of all the contributors deserve our thanks for their enthusiastic assent to joining this venture and the quality of their chapters, each of which is dedicated, with great affection, to Peter. Alison Shaw, at The Policy Press, was an equally enthusiastic commissioning editor and a great source of support. Karen Tsui and Olga Swales, at the University of Sheffield, provided excellent technical assistance. Last, but not least, Dorothy Sinfield acted as a fourth ‘shadow editor’. We are very grateful to all of them.