H.H. Asquith: Letters to Venetia Stanley

by Herbert Henry Asquith, Michael Brock (Editor), Eleanor Brock (Editor)

More than the fascinating story of Asquith's love for Venetia Stanley, these letters provide a rare inside look at British politics. They reveal a statesman faced with political ruin in the Irish civil war who escaped by leading Britain through the crisis of 1914 and the early years of the war. Asquith confided completely in Venetia, sharing with her military secrets that were unknown to the Cabinet or to naval and military commanders. He described political intrigues and wrote openly of his colleagues--who include Lloyd George, Churchill, and Kitchener.

696 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 8, 1982

About the author

Father of Herbert Asquith

British politician Herbert Henry Asquith, first earl of Oxford and Asquith, from 1908 as Liberal prime minister to 1916 introduced unemployment insurance and old-age pensions, and supported the Parliament act, which of 1911 established salaries for elected members and restricted the power of veto in the House of Lords.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._H._A...

Reviews

[Louis Phillips]

The reason I am interested in the book is my very deep feeling of resonance with Venetia Stanley. I won't go into why that is, it's probably a reason for a book about women. That said the insight into Asquith is invaluable. He was a member of that triumvirate of iconoclasts Asquith Churchill and Lloyd George that changed the world mostly for the better when they were involved in the government of Britain.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is all the letters by the PM H H Asquith sent to a much younger Venetia Stanley declaring his love and telling her all the secrets the PM got regarding the war sometimes only five people in the country knew about. He sent letters three times a day.
To me he was a very weak pathetic man obsessed with a younger woman often writing while in parliament even cancelled his appointment with the king so he could have half an hour with her and when she was nursing soldiers he complained using derogatory terms on the men fighting for his country!
The book was well put together with comments from the author.

[Adi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apart from the very dodgy relationship of a much older married man to a young woman, I'm finding Asquith's letters rather irritating. The most interesting bits are the intermittent summaries by the editor of the events Asquith writes about being put into a political and historical context. Interesting insights into both the causes of the 20th century Irish problem and the origins of WW1.

[Nick Pengelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

These letters between PM Asquith and a young woman are endless fascinating - and a wonderful source of material for a novelist!