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Dispatches from: Amazon Sold by: Books of Gemini
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FREE delivery 10 - 13 May
Dispatches from: The Cotswold Library Sold by: The Cotswold Library
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A History of Modern Britain Hardcover – 17 May 2007
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A History of Modern Britain confronts head-on the victory of shopping over politics. It tells the story of how the great political visions of New Jerusalem or a second Elizabethan Age, rival idealisms, came to be defeated by a culture of consumerism, celebrity and self-gratification. In each decade, political leaders thought they knew what they were doing, but find themselves confounded. Every time, the British people turn out to be stroppier and harder to herd than predicted.
Throughout, Britain is a country on the edge – first of invasion, then of bankruptcy, then on the vulnerable front line of the Cold War and later in the forefront of the great opening up of capital and migration now reshaping the world. This history follows all the political and economic stories, but deals too with comedy, cars, the war against homosexuals, Sixties anarchists, oil-men and punks, Margaret Thatcher’s wonderful good luck, political lies and the true heroes of British theatre. It accompanies a major five-part documentary series for BBC television.
- Print length655 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherMacmillan
- Publication date17 May 2007
- Dimensions16.51 x 5.08 x 23.5 cm
- ISBN-109781405005388
- ISBN-13978-1405005388
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Review
This book certainly goes for impact . . . Skipping and dipping through these six hundred-odd pages is great fun, perhaps even (I give a quote for the eventual paperback's blurb) a damned good read . . . This book will be read with pleasure, for Marr's ironic tone and ever -present pleasant presence. --Bernard Crick, Edinburgh Review
About the Author
Andrew Marr was born in Glasgow in 1959. He studied English at the University of Cambridge and has since enjoyed a long career in political journalism, working for the Scotsman, the Independent, the Daily Express and the Observer. From 2000 to 2005 he was the BBC’s Political Editor. He has written and presented TV documentaries on history, science and politics, and for many years presented the weekly Andrew Marr Show on Sunday mornings on BBC1 and Start the Week on Radio 4. He left the BBC at the end of 2021 to join LBC, Classic FM and the New Statesman. He lives in London with his family.
Product details
- ASIN : 1405005386
- Publisher : Macmillan; First Edition (17 May 2007)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 655 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9781405005388
- ISBN-13 : 978-1405005388
- Dimensions : 16.51 x 5.08 x 23.5 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 259,760 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer reviews:
About the author
Andrew Marr was born in Glasgow in 1959. He studied English at the University of Cambridge and has since enjoyed a long career in political journalism, working for the Scotsman, the Independent, the Daily Express and the Observer. From 2000 to 2005 he was the BBC's Political Editor. He has written and presented TV documentaries on history, science and politics, and presents the weekly Andrew Marr Show on Sunday mornings on BBC1 and Start the Week on Radio 4. Andrew lives in London with his family.
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I hope your find my review helpful.
As I neared the end of the book I re-read the reviews here and was somewhat surprised to see some 1 and 2 star reviews, although on reading them I did agree with some of their content.
Overall the book as far as what I hoped to get out of it was 5 stars. Very readable and a great review of politics from 1945 until 2006.
However I do have some comments about it. I didn't quite understand the infrequent dips into non-political issues e.g. fashion in the 1960s. Although I can understand that this was an important backdrop to the political situation (more liberal rules etc) the 'dipping' was a little inconsistent, almost as if either Andrew Marr or the publisher had said 'Nice book can you do a few non-political bits please?'. I did enjoy the 'dips' but wonder whether the book would be better without them, or with more of them? On balance they could probably have been worked in within the theme of the politics hence my title for my review - the book shoudl be A Political History of Modern Britain.
I was also a bit disappointed that more detail was not given to decimalisation (a couple of lines) which as an 11 year old I remember very clearly - surely that was a political hot potato worthy of more discussion?
As for the reviewer who complained it was like A-level History, well I didn't do that and for me the depth of the writing was enough, but I accept that perhaps the book is very superficial, though I have to say highly enjoyable.
These comments would not have made me drop a star in my rating, but the appalling typos I am afraid do, so 4 not 5.
Well worth reading though despite my tiny reservations.
The book contains interesting facts, like what Brits in the 40's would have looked and dressed like. It will also give you some clues to how and why Brits chose the way they did in a certain referendum in 2016. The author, in my view, offers an impartial view of our post war history and makes points which could be controversial but are facts. The book is accessible with chunks inside four parts so not too dry or academic.
Most importantly, it tells us how much of our destiny was decided not by us but by elites in Whitehall. Did they make the right decisions for us, was it for the greater good? That's for you to decide. Enjoy.
As a political commentary it is thorough if you're looking for a standard analysis of the period. It would have been enhanced by giving some space to a left wing or Marxist critique. It remained slightly right of centre, as you would expect from this author. This meant there was insufficient space on the impact of policies on people marginalised by those policies or of the divide between those with power and wealth, and those struggling to make ends meet. Class as an issue was hardly mentioned, nor was the attainment gap between children of the rich and poor.
I enjoyed the earlier chapters best. They focussed on politics, but also on wider cultural issues. They attempted to draw connections across the whole spectrum of life rather than the narrow focus on politics. It was interesting to debate with the book - and later with others - some of Marr's descriptions of culture in the 50s and 60s. Sadly, as the book went on everything but politics was left alone.
Is it a history of Britain or English or indeed Westminster politics? I think it descended into Westminster politics. As a Scot, I felt we were hardly at the races. I'm not sure how people from Northern Ireland, Wales or the regions of England felt.
An interesting read, but there is more to be said about the period.
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Well done and thankyou Mr Marr