A History Of Modern Britain

Product Description

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 & self-gratification. In each decade, political leaders think they know what they are doing, but find themselves confounded. Every time, the British people turn out to be stroppier & 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 & later in the forefront of the great opening up of capital & migration now reshaping the world. This history follows all the political & economic stories, but deals too with comedy, cars, the war against homosexuals, Sixties anarchists, oil-men & punks, Margaret Thatcher`s wonderful good luck, political lies & the true heroes of British theatre. `superb, colourful, outspoken, fresh & richly entertaining. Don`t miss` The Times ` Lively, full of rich anecdotes & sparkling pen portraits. He has the rare gift of being able to explain complex issues in a few crisp sentences` Sunday Telegraph