Britain Since 1918: A Political History

by David Marquand

A new political history of modern Britain - entertaining, instructive and thought-provoking.The history of democratic politics in Britain since the coming of universal male suffrage in 1918 is a dramatic one, crowded with events and colourful figures. As well as the great events of war and economic crises, and the quieter drama of constitutional change, this era has been studded with democratic protests of every sort.The story opens more than 350 years ago. The Levellers of the 17th century, 18th-century radicals, the Chartists and the Reform Acts are all part of the unsteady and fiercely contested progress towards a democratic constitution. Dreams, visions and ideals are important too - of George Orwell, and Enoch Powell, Milton, Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke, Churchill and Lord Salisbury, Aneurin Bevan and Tony Benn - for they have also shaped our outlook.

Genres: History, Politics

Hardcover

First published September 11, 2008

About the author

David Ian Marquand, FBA, FRHistS, FRSA, was a British academic and former Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP). Educated at Emanuel School, Magdalen College, Oxford, St. Antony’s College, Oxford, and at the University of California, Berkeley, his writings focused on issues surrounding British politics and social democracy.

Reviews

[Spencer Warner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hardly even worth a review. The way the author jumps from theme to theme makes this a turgid read, but the nadir of the book is the crazy multitude of terms he just randomly throws into the narrative without bothering to explain what they mean (eg. Caesarism.. quasi-fundamentalism etc) I would like to pride myself on knowing a fair bit about the 20th century, but the only part where I really got the jist of what was written was the 1980's, and that's because I've already read a much better book covering that period. A good reference book? Possibly, but certainly not something you would read from cover to cover!

[Jane Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't understand the point of this book. Its starting point is supposedly the coming of universal (or nearly) suffrage in 1918, and we get a short history of the expansion of the franchise. But thereafter the electorate is irrelevant. The book becomes a conventional political history. Marquand devotes very little space to the advent of the SDP, despite the fact that he was involved with it himself (it's where I met him) and should know that it was very relevant to understanding the attitudes of the electorate. Only at the end of the book does he turn his attention to crucial issues such as the influence of the media and the decline in election turn-out and party membership, but these are afterthoughts.
There's also a problem with Marquand's style. He uses an arcane vocabulary and loves French expressions, particularly "etatisme", whatever that is. I persevered to the end, but I almost regret it.

[Nathanael Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book can be a bit jumpy at times. Although the prime ministers are in chronological order the events under each are not which can be a little confusing when trying to piece everything together.

The categories he uses democratic republican, Whig imperialist, democratic collectivist and Tory nationalist are better suited to the the start of the 20th century. I felt once you got to thatcher and in particular Blair leaders didn’t really fit these pigeon holes he described Blair as a cross between all four. Seems like the categories just lacked the adequacy to cover Blair with any great deal of accuracy.

Also, the author despite being a Labour MP is more critical of Blair than both Thatcher and Salisbury a sign of his bias or mine perhaps. Overall, a good book but might be worth taking the categories with a pinch of salt.

[maya ✿]

quite jarring in the way in which it jumps from theme to theme, however when it focused particularly on the question of britain’s ever-changing standing in the world, i thought that marquand’s comments were insightful.

also, i found likening blair to the “young lochinvar” was a very enjoyable comparison — would love for someone to expand further upon young sir tony being reminiscent of romantic medieval heroes because i really think there’s something to be said there (though i am admittedly likely alone in such thoughts)

[Michael Macdonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Competent rather than inspiring history showing how elites avoided accountability by giving Britain what they believed was good rather than seek democratic legitimacy. Unpicks Atlee's changes as part of historic change, shows his distaste for New Labour spin and ends with a call for democratic republicanism. thoughtful alternative assessment of Britain's past.

[Ewan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first politics books I read and I reread it this year. Although it can be slow going, as comes with the territory of non-fiction, it gives you a great understanding of why British politics is the way it is. The only issue is that it being published before 2010 makes it out of date with current politics.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book I come back to and read parts of. I've attempted but not succeeded in reading it cover to cover and in not sure I ever will.
It's an interesting idea looking at democracy in Britain through the context of political events and I'm not aware of anything of a similar nature.
My issue with this book stems from the chapter that covers the Macmillan government. It is riddled with factual inaccuracies and misconceptions. Some of the events that would locally fit with the nature if the book (ie the succession scandal) are grossed over whilst others are completely ignored (ie the law allowing peers to renounce their peerage and the creation of life peers). The author seems far more concerned with the titalation of the Prufuno affair - a topic I can't see the relation to democracy.