British Prime Ministers and Other Essays

British Prime Ministers and Other Essays
Author: Alan John Percivale Taylor
Publisher:
Total Pages: 468
Release: 2000
Genre: History
ISBN:

A. J. P. Taylor was one of the most popular and important historians of his generation. This collection, including six television lectures published for the first time, brings together his incisive portraits of prime ministers from Walpole, Pitt the Younger, Gladstone and Disraeli to Lloyd George, Chamberlain, Churchill and Eden. It provides provocative analyses of 'How Wars Begin' - who else would have stressed the role of railway timetables in the origins of the Great War? - and 'How Wars End'. And it assembles a wonderful set of more miscellaneous pieces on everything from Manchester to William Morris, gastronomy, CND and the possible 'lessons of history'. A must for all Taylor's many admirers, this book also forms an ideal introduction to a uniquely wide-ranging, witty and stimulating historian.

Prime Minister Boris

Prime Minister Boris
Author: Duncan Brack
Publisher: Biteback Publishing
Total Pages: 413
Release: 2011-10-06
Genre: Humor
ISBN: 1849542457

History resting on a hair's breadth ... a man dies rather than lives, an election is lost rather than won, one minister is appointed, another dismissed, a coalition is joined, or not. Enter a world of political counterfactuals, twenty-two examinations of things that never happened - but could have. In this book a collection of distinguished commentators, including journalists, academics, former MPs and special advisers, consider how things might have turned out differently throughout a century of political history - from Lloyd George and Keynes drowning at sea in 1916 right through to Boris Johnson becoming Prime Minister in 2016. Scholarly analyses of possibilities and causalities take their place beside fictional accounts of alternate political histories - and all are guaranteed to entertain and make you think.

The Prime Ministers

The Prime Ministers
Author: Iain Dale
Publisher:
Total Pages: 608
Release: 2020-11-12
Genre:
ISBN: 9781529312140

It has almost been 300 years since Sir Robert Walpole arguably became the first holder of the office of Prime Minister in 1721 - an office which today is under scrutiny like never before. The Prime Ministers, edited by leading political commentator Iain Dale, brings to life all 55 of Britain's 'First Among Equals' with an essay for each office holder, written by key figures in British politics. From the obscure 18th-century figures like the Earl of Shelburne to 20th-century titans like Churchill and Thatcher, this book provides a much-needed reminder about their motivations, failures and achievements.

The Prime Ministers

The Prime Ministers
Author: Iain Dale
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Total Pages: 576
Release: 2020-11-12
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1529312175

**Winner of the 2020 PARLIAMENTARY BOOK AWARDS for Best Political Book by a Non-Parliamentarian** A Times Political Book of the Year 'An entertaining, thorough and informative canter through the characters and stories of prime ministers past.' - New Statesman 'A wealth of enjoyable insights into three centuries of Westminster politics... It is a most elegant hardback volume, with a gilded cover that looks a little like the famous front door of No. 10 itself; the ideal Christmas gift.' - Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman 'This is a timely study of UK Prime Ministers and Iain Dale has done the subject a great service with this measured and thoughtful labour of love which offers a fascinating set of insights into the history of Britain, politics, the role of Prime Minister, and elite and establishment power... a superb guide to the times we have lived through and are living in.' - Gerry Hassan, Scottish Review *** 'Many of my predecessors were giants, some had feet of clay, all possessed human foibles.' - From the foreword by Boris Johnson It has almost been 300 years since Sir Robert Walpole arguably became the first holder of the office of Prime Minister in 1721 - an office which today is under scrutiny like never before. The Prime Ministers, edited by leading political commentator Iain Dale, brings to life all 55 of Britain's 'First Among Equals' with an essay for each office holder, written by key figures in British politics. From the obscure 18th-century figures like the Earl of Shelburne to 20th-century titans like Churchill and Thatcher, this book provides a much-needed reminder about their motivations, failures and achievements.

Harold Wilson

Harold Wilson
Author: Andrew S. Crines
Publisher: Biteback Publishing
Total Pages: 228
Release: 2016-03-11
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1785900587

This year marks the centenary of Harold Wilson's birth, the fiftieth anniversary of his most impressive general election victory and forty years since his dramatic resignation as Prime Minister. He was one of the longest-serving premiers of the twentieth century, having won a staggering four general elections, yet, despite this monumental record, his place in Labour's history remains somewhat ambiguous. By the end of his two periods in power, both the left and right of the party were highly critical of Wilson - the former regarding him as a traitor to socialism, the latter as contributing directly to British decline. With contributions from leading experts in the fields of political study, and from Wilson's own contemporaries, this remarkable new study offers a timely and wide-ranging reappraisal of one of the giants of twentieth-century politics, examining the context within which he operated, his approach to leadership and responses to changing social and economic norms, the successes and failure of his policies, and how he was viewed by peers from across the political spectrum. Finally, it examines the overall impact of Harold Wilson on the development of British politics.

Where Power Stops

Where Power Stops
Author: David Runciman
Publisher: Profile Books
Total Pages: 220
Release: 2019-08-22
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1782835997

Lyndon Baines Johnson, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Barack Obama, Gordon Brown, Theresa May, and Donald Trump: each had different motivations, methods, and paths, but they all sought the highest office. And yet when they reached their goal, they often found that the power they had imagined was illusory. Their sweeping visions of reform faltered. They faced bureaucratic obstructions, but often the biggest obstruction was their own character. However, their personalities could help them as much as hurt them. Arguably the most successful of them, LBJ showed little indication that he supported what he is best known for - the Civil Rights Act - but his grit, resolve, and brute political skill saw him bend Congress to his will. David Runciman tackles the limitations of high office and how the personal histories of those who achieved the very pinnacles of power helped to define their successes and failures in office. These portraits show what characters are most effective in these offices. Could this be a blueprint for good and effective leadership in an age lacking good leaders?

Modern British Prime Ministers from Balfour to Johnson

Modern British Prime Ministers from Balfour to Johnson
Author: Dick Leonard
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 436
Release: 2021-11-22
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 100047268X

Dick Leonard’s Modern British Prime Ministers from Balfour to Johnson surveys the lives and careers of all the 24 Prime Ministers from Arthur Balfour to Boris Johnson in succinct, informative and entertaining chapters. Bringing to life the political achievements and personal idiosyncrasies of Britain's rulers over the 20th and 21st centuries, the author recounts the circumstances which took them to the pinnacle of British political life, probes their political and personal strengths and weaknesses, assesses their performance in office and asks what lasting influence they have had. Along the way Leonard entertains and informs, revealing little-known facts about the private lives of each of the Prime Ministers, for example, which two Premiers, one Tory, one Labour were taught by the same governess as a child? Who was thrashed at his public school for writing pornography and later donated one-fifth of his wealth to the nation? Who was awarded a fourth-class degree at Oxford and went on to father eight children? Who was described by his son as ‘probably the greatest natural Don Juan in the history of British politics'? This book can also form part of a two-volume set published by Routledge including the companion volume British Prime Ministers from Walpole to Salisbury: The 18th and 19th Centuries. This book will be of key interest to scholars, students and readers of British political history, the Executive, government, and British politics.

Biographical Dictionary of British Prime Ministers

Biographical Dictionary of British Prime Ministers
Author: Robert Eccleshall
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 458
Release: 2002-06-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1134662300

The Biographical Dictionary of British Prime Ministers is a wide-ranging, comprehensive guide to the political lives of Britain's prime ministers from Sir Robert Walpole to Tony Blair. Written by some of the leading authorities on British politics this authoritative dictionary provides essential information about each premiership, including facts and analytical debate. Each entry has been written to the same formula and contains: * brief biographical information outlining career history and significant dates and events * a brief summary of the significance and peculiarities of a particular prime minister followed by a more descriptive and interpretative account of his or her political life and impact on British politics * references and further reading. The Biographical Dictionary of British Prime Ministers addresses many of the key themes to understanding the role and impact of particular prime ministers such as: the political context; party management and reform; intra-party intellectual debate; and where relevant the evolution of the office of prime minister.

Prime Ministerial Anecdotes

Prime Ministerial Anecdotes
Author: Roger Mason
Publisher: Fonthill Media
Total Pages: 444
Release: 2018-06-30
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

There have been fifty-four Prime Ministers in Britain, from Sir Robert Walpole to Theresa May, and this volume will explore each of them in varying depth. Each chapter will start with a mini-biography, providing details of the Prime Minister's life and career before moving on to a number of anecdotes about them. `Prime Ministerial Anecdotes' documents the entire history of Britain's parliamentary elect, analysing the character and actions of the highest governmental officials. Roger Mason's detailed profiles ensure that each holder of this title is remembered for posterity.

The Oxford Handbook of Modern British Political History, 1800-2000

The Oxford Handbook of Modern British Political History, 1800-2000
Author: David Brown
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 717
Release: 2018-03-29
Genre: History
ISBN: 0191024279

The two centuries after 1800 witnessed a series of sweeping changes in the way in which Britain was governed, the duties of the state, and its role in the wider world. Powerful processes - from the development of democracy, the changing nature of the social contract, war, and economic dislocation - have challenged, and at times threatened to overwhelm, both governors and governed. Such shifts have also presented challenges to the historians who have researched and written about Britain's past politics. This Handbook shows the ways in which political historians have responded to these challenges, providing a snapshot of a field which has long been at the forefront of conceptual and methodological innovation within historical studies. It comprises thirty-three thematic essays by leading and emerging scholars in the field. Collectively, these essays assess and rethink the nature of modern British political history itself and suggest avenues and questions for future research. The Oxford Handbook of Modern British Political History thus provides a unique resource for those who wish to understand Britain's political past and a thought-provoking 'long view' for those interested in current political challenges.