Career
He holds B.A. and M.Litt degrees from the University of Birmingham, where he was taught by the leading historian of Chartism, Dorothy Thompson. Roberts has followed the lead of Dorothy and Edward Thompson in writing in sympathy with working class politicians and writers in a series of books which have been largely biographical in approach. Roberts's first book Radical Politicians and Poets in Early Victorian Britain (1993) recounted the stories of six lesser known leaders of Chartism, all of whom would have been nationally recognised at the time as speakers and journalists.
His subsequent work on Chartism has often been done in collaboration with other scholars. With Owen Ashton and Robert Fyson, he has brought out a bibliography of Chartism (1995), a festschrift for Dorothy Thompson (1995) and a volume of essays (1999). With Dorothy Thompson, he edited a collection of contemporary illustrations of the movement entitled Images of Chartism (1998).
Roberts has also written, with Owen Ashton, a study of nineteenth century artisan authorship, The Victorian Working Class Writer (1999). More recently he is the author of the well received dual biography of Thomas Cooper and Arthur O'Neill, The Chartist Prisoners (2008). The reviewers of Roberts' work have noted his thorough research, empathy with his subject and clarity of expression.
Roberts also has an interest in ultra-Tory politics in the Victorian period. With Mark Acton, he has edited a collection of material relating to Colonel Sibthorp, the ultra-Tory MP for Lincoln 1826–55. Roberts has spoken about the Chartists on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4.
For many years he held a research fellowship at the University of Birmingham.
