New on my bookshelf
I've just gone on a Labour history second hand book spree and bought:
The Road to Brighton Pier - Leslie Hunter (1959) - the story of "how the Labour Party almost destroyed itself in the turbulent years between the resignation of Nye Bevan from the Cabinet in 1951 and his miraculous escape from expulsion in 1955".
The Labour Party Conference - Lewis Minkin (1978) - explores who wielded the block vote in the '70s.
In My Way - George Brown (1970) - the "fighting memoirs" of Wilson's deputy.
The House the Left Built - Michael Hatfield (1978) - how the Labour Party ended up in 1974 with its "most left-wing programme in thirty years".
Has anyone out there read any of these and if so, any recommendations on which one to start first?
posted by Luke Akehurst at 7:48 pm
6 Comments:
George Brown was the Prescott of his age. A drunken, lecherous, embarrassment. In My Way is almost as tedious a self justification exercise as George Thomas's Mr Speaker (and if that ain't damning with faint praise I don't know what is).
Haven't read any of the others, but even you surely can't regard Brown as anything other than a figure of fun ... surely ???
12:39 am, February 20, 2007
Actually I would have voted for him against Wilson in the '63 leadership election. He had very sound politics and before the drinking got out of hand was very popular with the electorate.
9:02 am, February 20, 2007
The Minkin book was written for you Luke, although he has done some pretty major new editions since '78 I think.
10:33 am, February 20, 2007
"Hackney, London, GB"
Do I detect a touch of republicanism there with the GB and not UK?
Tsk, what would Herbert Morrison say?
3:50 pm, February 20, 2007
Try "The House That Tone Built" (2008) the story of the most right wing programme and dirigiste party ever and "Spinning In My Grave" (2008) by the late great Keir Hardie.
12:01 pm, February 21, 2007
It's the UNITED KINGDOM of Great Britain AND Northern Ireland.
We demand recognition! I'm as British as the next man!
5:29 pm, February 21, 2007
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