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Eden: The Life and Times of Anthony Eden First Earl of Avon, 1897-1977
Anthony Eden, who served as both Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister, was one of the central political figures of the twentieth century. He had good looks, charm, a Military Cross from the Great War, an Oxford first and a secure parliamentary constituency from his mid-twenties. He was Foreign Secretary at the age of 38, and the first British statesman to meet Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin. Eden's dramatic resignation from Neville Chamberlain's Cabinet in 1938, outlined here in the fullest detail yet, made an international impact.This ground-breaking book examines his controversial life and tells the inside story of the Munich crisis (1938), the Geneva Conference (1954), Eden's battles with Churchill over the modernisation of the post-war Conservative Party and his rivalry with Butler and Macmillan in the early 1950s, culminating in a fascinating analysis of the Suez crisis.
784 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2003
11 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
D. Richard Thorpe
7 books2 followersD. R. (Richard) Thorpe was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh and Selwyn College, Cambridge. He taught history at Charterhouse, a public school in Surrey, for over 30 years. Among other academic appointments, he was Archives Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge, and a Fellow of St Antony's College, Oxford and Brasenose College, Oxford.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 3, 2025
The Heir Apparent
Having a huge interest in British history, Winston Churchill and the Second World War, I have wanted to read D.R. Thorpe’s Anthony Eden for a long time. Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Eden is of course best remembered for the disastrous Suez Crisis of 1956 and for being Churchill’s heir apparent, Prime Minister in waiting for nearly 20 years. But as Thorpe argues in this book, Eden was far more complex and capable than these two defining elements. What he has produced is a well written and deep thoughtful account of a man who really did have his highs and lows both professionally and personally. This is a study not just of a politician, but of a personality caught between idealism and reality, honour and ambition, and ultimately success and tragedy.
I found that one of the central themes of Anthony Eden is the moral dimension of leadership. From his earliest days in politics, Eden prided himself on being a man of principle. He resigned from Neville Chamberlain’s government over the policy of appeasement in 1938, a bold move that earned him public admiration and positioned him as the ‘golden boy’ of British politics. Thorpe uses this moment to highlight Eden’s lifelong belief that foreign policy should be guided by ethics as much as strategy, an attitude that often brought him into conflict with the pragmatic realities of diplomacy.
Another recurring theme is the weight of expectation. As I have mentioned above, for much of his career, Eden was seen as Churchill’s natural successor; handsome, eloquent, and modern, the perfect figure to lead postwar Britain. Yet Thorpe shows how this promise became a burden. Living in Churchill’s shadow, Eden could never quite escape comparison with his mentor. Anthony Eden captures the tension between admiration and frustration that defined their relationship: Churchill’s brilliance often overshadowed Eden’s steady competence, and by the time Eden finally reached the premiership in 1955, he was already physically exhausted and emotionally frayed.
Thorpe also explores the decline of British power, a theme that gives the story a wider historical resonance. The Suez Crisis wasn’t just Eden’s personal failure; it was a symbol of Britain’s shrinking role on the world stage. Thorpe skillfully links Eden’s decisions to the broader shifts of the 1950s: the rise of American dominance, the pressures of the Cold War, and the fading illusion of empire. In doing so, he transforms a political biography into a meditation on national identity and the challenges of change.
Thorpe is balanced, humane, and quietly sympathetic throughout this book. He doesn’t shy away from Eden’s flaws, such as the vanity, the irritability, the misjudgments, but he presents them within the context of a man under immense strain. This is not a hatchet job, nor is it a whitewash. It’s a fair-minded study that treats Eden as a human being rather than a symbol. Furthermore, I really enjoyed his writing style. It flows and is accessible without losing its authority. He explains complex diplomatic maneuvers clearly and brings to life the personalities behind the politics. There’s warmth in his depiction of Eden’s early optimism, and genuine sadness in his portrayal of the later years, when ill health, dependence on medication, and mounting political pressure clouded Eden’s judgment. The tone feels almost novelistic at times, giving readers a vivid sense of both the man and the moment.
For me Anthony Eden is a great political biography, due to the writing style, analysis and its depth of historical insight. Thorpe had access to private papers, diaries, and interviews that allow him to reconstruct events with impressive detail. His analysis of Eden’s time as Foreign Secretary is especially strong: he shows how Eden helped shape postwar Europe, worked tirelessly for peace in the Middle East, and often acted as the moral conscience of Churchill’s wartime cabinet.
When it comes to the Suez Crisis (the episode that defined Eden’s downfall), Thorpe’s account is both thorough and fair. He neither excuses nor exaggerates. Instead, he shows how Eden’s instincts, shaped by years of standing up to dictators in the 1930s, led him to misread the ambitions of Egypt’s President Nasser. The book suggests that Eden saw Nasser through the lens of Hitler and Mussolini, as another aggressor who had to be stopped. It’s a tragic miscalculation, but Thorpe makes clear how it came from deeply held beliefs rather than cynicism or greed. I feel that Eden was probably write to assume this in the circumstances of the time. The great tragedy, which was even admitted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower himself, was that the USA did not back the French and British which truly put a nail on the coffin of the old powers, especially the British. They have been second rate ever since and slowly slipping even further.
Beyond individual events, Thorpe offers fascinating insight into the workings of mid-century British politics such as the fragile egos, the rivalries within the Conservative Party, and the immense pressures of maintaining Britain’s global role at a time when that role was already fading.
In conclusion, Thorpe’s Anthony Eden is more than a biography; it’s a study in leadership, character, and the limits of power. It reminds readers that political failure is rarely the result of one man’s weakness, but often the product of history itself closing in. Thorpe restores Eden’s reputation as a man of intelligence, integrity, and good intentions. One whose story is as tragic as it is instructive. If you are interested in British history, postwar politics, or simply the drama of human ambition, then Thorpe’s book is for you.
Having a huge interest in British history, Winston Churchill and the Second World War, I have wanted to read D.R. Thorpe’s Anthony Eden for a long time. Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Eden is of course best remembered for the disastrous Suez Crisis of 1956 and for being Churchill’s heir apparent, Prime Minister in waiting for nearly 20 years. But as Thorpe argues in this book, Eden was far more complex and capable than these two defining elements. What he has produced is a well written and deep thoughtful account of a man who really did have his highs and lows both professionally and personally. This is a study not just of a politician, but of a personality caught between idealism and reality, honour and ambition, and ultimately success and tragedy.
I found that one of the central themes of Anthony Eden is the moral dimension of leadership. From his earliest days in politics, Eden prided himself on being a man of principle. He resigned from Neville Chamberlain’s government over the policy of appeasement in 1938, a bold move that earned him public admiration and positioned him as the ‘golden boy’ of British politics. Thorpe uses this moment to highlight Eden’s lifelong belief that foreign policy should be guided by ethics as much as strategy, an attitude that often brought him into conflict with the pragmatic realities of diplomacy.
Another recurring theme is the weight of expectation. As I have mentioned above, for much of his career, Eden was seen as Churchill’s natural successor; handsome, eloquent, and modern, the perfect figure to lead postwar Britain. Yet Thorpe shows how this promise became a burden. Living in Churchill’s shadow, Eden could never quite escape comparison with his mentor. Anthony Eden captures the tension between admiration and frustration that defined their relationship: Churchill’s brilliance often overshadowed Eden’s steady competence, and by the time Eden finally reached the premiership in 1955, he was already physically exhausted and emotionally frayed.
Thorpe also explores the decline of British power, a theme that gives the story a wider historical resonance. The Suez Crisis wasn’t just Eden’s personal failure; it was a symbol of Britain’s shrinking role on the world stage. Thorpe skillfully links Eden’s decisions to the broader shifts of the 1950s: the rise of American dominance, the pressures of the Cold War, and the fading illusion of empire. In doing so, he transforms a political biography into a meditation on national identity and the challenges of change.
Thorpe is balanced, humane, and quietly sympathetic throughout this book. He doesn’t shy away from Eden’s flaws, such as the vanity, the irritability, the misjudgments, but he presents them within the context of a man under immense strain. This is not a hatchet job, nor is it a whitewash. It’s a fair-minded study that treats Eden as a human being rather than a symbol. Furthermore, I really enjoyed his writing style. It flows and is accessible without losing its authority. He explains complex diplomatic maneuvers clearly and brings to life the personalities behind the politics. There’s warmth in his depiction of Eden’s early optimism, and genuine sadness in his portrayal of the later years, when ill health, dependence on medication, and mounting political pressure clouded Eden’s judgment. The tone feels almost novelistic at times, giving readers a vivid sense of both the man and the moment.
For me Anthony Eden is a great political biography, due to the writing style, analysis and its depth of historical insight. Thorpe had access to private papers, diaries, and interviews that allow him to reconstruct events with impressive detail. His analysis of Eden’s time as Foreign Secretary is especially strong: he shows how Eden helped shape postwar Europe, worked tirelessly for peace in the Middle East, and often acted as the moral conscience of Churchill’s wartime cabinet.
When it comes to the Suez Crisis (the episode that defined Eden’s downfall), Thorpe’s account is both thorough and fair. He neither excuses nor exaggerates. Instead, he shows how Eden’s instincts, shaped by years of standing up to dictators in the 1930s, led him to misread the ambitions of Egypt’s President Nasser. The book suggests that Eden saw Nasser through the lens of Hitler and Mussolini, as another aggressor who had to be stopped. It’s a tragic miscalculation, but Thorpe makes clear how it came from deeply held beliefs rather than cynicism or greed. I feel that Eden was probably write to assume this in the circumstances of the time. The great tragedy, which was even admitted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower himself, was that the USA did not back the French and British which truly put a nail on the coffin of the old powers, especially the British. They have been second rate ever since and slowly slipping even further.
Beyond individual events, Thorpe offers fascinating insight into the workings of mid-century British politics such as the fragile egos, the rivalries within the Conservative Party, and the immense pressures of maintaining Britain’s global role at a time when that role was already fading.
In conclusion, Thorpe’s Anthony Eden is more than a biography; it’s a study in leadership, character, and the limits of power. It reminds readers that political failure is rarely the result of one man’s weakness, but often the product of history itself closing in. Thorpe restores Eden’s reputation as a man of intelligence, integrity, and good intentions. One whose story is as tragic as it is instructive. If you are interested in British history, postwar politics, or simply the drama of human ambition, then Thorpe’s book is for you.
July 27, 2015
Few reputations in British political history have suffered more than that of Anthony Eden. A rising young star of inter-war British politics, his career was hindered, if not crippled, by his extended tenure as heir-apparent to Winston Churchill for the leadership of the Conservative Party and the nation. Defined for a generation by his resignation in response to Chamberlain's determined policies of appeasement, his premiership will forever be remembered for the disastrous misjudgment of the Suez invasion. So tarnished has his reputation been that his family has commissioned two official biographies since his death. D. R. Thorpe's is the second, following on Robert Rhodes James' biography from nearly two decades before.
Thorpe's book is a noticeably sympathetic account of Eden's life, one which helps the reader understand the nature of his appeal. Born to a family that Thorpe characterizes as "minor aristocracy," he enjoyed a privileged childhood that was punctuated by service in the First World War. Interested in politics at an early age, he won a seat in Parliament in 1924 where he soon gained a reputation for ability in foreign policy. A little more than a decade after winning his first election, Eden was appointed Foreign Secretary. Over the next three years he faced the rise of an increasingly aggressive Germany, during which time he embraced policies that placed him increasingly out of step with his more conciliatory colleagues but did his reputation much good later on.
After his resignation in 1938 Eden quickly became a focus of Conservative dissent in the House of Commons. He was even seen by many as an alternative to the existing prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, though his slow return to office after the start of the Second World War meant that he was not a candidate when Chamberlain resigned in 1940. Eventually returning to his old job as Foreign Secretary, Eden soon emerged as Winston Churchill's successor as leader of the Conservative Party, a position he would occupy with increasing discomfort for the next fifteen years. Though eventually succeeding Churchill as Prime Minister in 1955, he faced a host of problems, most notably Nasser's nationalization of the Suez Canal the following year. Determined to regain the canal, the resulting operation proved a humiliating reversal, crippling Britain's international standing and costing Eden his premiership.
An accomplished political biographer, Thorpe offers a solid account of Eden's life, one rooted in a considerable amount of research, including numerous original interviews with people who knew Eden. Yet the book is burdened by an annoying degree of repetition of little details that seems prematurely introduced and then brought up again just a few pages later. Thorpe also seems never to have encountered a quote or an anecdote he didn't like, regardless of its relevancy to the topic being examined. Such matters distract from the overall focus of his point and diminish the broader effectiveness of Thorpe's writing.
Despite these flaws, Thorpe has provided what is the best biography of a controversial and disappointing prime minister. Though not as well written as James's earlier study, it benefits from Thorpe's extensive archival research, much of it in collections which was unavailable earlier. As such it stands as a well-supported defense of Eden's career, one infused with much respect for the man and consideration for his achievements.
Thorpe's book is a noticeably sympathetic account of Eden's life, one which helps the reader understand the nature of his appeal. Born to a family that Thorpe characterizes as "minor aristocracy," he enjoyed a privileged childhood that was punctuated by service in the First World War. Interested in politics at an early age, he won a seat in Parliament in 1924 where he soon gained a reputation for ability in foreign policy. A little more than a decade after winning his first election, Eden was appointed Foreign Secretary. Over the next three years he faced the rise of an increasingly aggressive Germany, during which time he embraced policies that placed him increasingly out of step with his more conciliatory colleagues but did his reputation much good later on.
After his resignation in 1938 Eden quickly became a focus of Conservative dissent in the House of Commons. He was even seen by many as an alternative to the existing prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, though his slow return to office after the start of the Second World War meant that he was not a candidate when Chamberlain resigned in 1940. Eventually returning to his old job as Foreign Secretary, Eden soon emerged as Winston Churchill's successor as leader of the Conservative Party, a position he would occupy with increasing discomfort for the next fifteen years. Though eventually succeeding Churchill as Prime Minister in 1955, he faced a host of problems, most notably Nasser's nationalization of the Suez Canal the following year. Determined to regain the canal, the resulting operation proved a humiliating reversal, crippling Britain's international standing and costing Eden his premiership.
An accomplished political biographer, Thorpe offers a solid account of Eden's life, one rooted in a considerable amount of research, including numerous original interviews with people who knew Eden. Yet the book is burdened by an annoying degree of repetition of little details that seems prematurely introduced and then brought up again just a few pages later. Thorpe also seems never to have encountered a quote or an anecdote he didn't like, regardless of its relevancy to the topic being examined. Such matters distract from the overall focus of his point and diminish the broader effectiveness of Thorpe's writing.
Despite these flaws, Thorpe has provided what is the best biography of a controversial and disappointing prime minister. Though not as well written as James's earlier study, it benefits from Thorpe's extensive archival research, much of it in collections which was unavailable earlier. As such it stands as a well-supported defense of Eden's career, one infused with much respect for the man and consideration for his achievements.
March 15, 2021
Anthony Eden occupies a place well-known to both American and British politics: the loyal, graceful, competent subordinate; the evergreen Prince of Wales forever on the cusp of leadership; and upon attaining leadership, having his or her legacy sink lower under the tremendous weight of both circumstances and expectations. Eden was very much the prince-in-waiting during his many years leading the Foreign Office, with three stints, beginning under Neville Chamberlain and then under Churchill both during and after the Second World War. As Foreign Secretary, Eden was a natural diplomat, but gifted with the gut-instinct that made Churchill and Attlee worry at the darkening clouds of fascism and Nazism in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. For Thorpe, Eden assumes the mantle of ballast during the War Years, a sort of realist check on the whimsical flights taken by Churchill on war planning and governance, often in the wee hours of the night. Britain's victory may indeed owe very much to Churchill; but the victory, as Thorpe shows, was a team effort by politicians like Eden who channelled Churchill's will into policy and diplomacy.
Through the War Years, Attlee's government, and Churchill's postwar government, Eden waits... and waits... and waits. Churchill clings onto the premiership, unwilling to relent until he has seen the British nation through the early years of the Cold War. Eventually, though, Churchill's health compels the lion to lay down the sword, and Eden becomes Prime Minister.
In becoming Prime Minister, Eden seemingly loses the good sense and balance of his Foreign Secretaryship years. On Suez, Eden defies Gamel Nasser's nationalist hopes for the Suez Canal, coming to collude with Israel and France for a military take-over of the key waterway. Eden makes many mistakes, perhaps most not syncing up with the Eisenhower Administration in the States, allowing the United States to hold forth as an objective observer and compel Britain to give up its military schemes in Egypt. Humiliated by its ally and unable to enforce its former imperial will, Britain of course recedes further and Eden fails to survive long as prime minister (succeeded by Harold MacMillan, a one-time ally turned schemer for the top post during the Suez Crisis).
Thorpe lays out a good case that Eden was a remarkable politician and diplomat, and perhaps even more nuanced in his thinking on Suez than history has chosen to remember. However, Eden cannot do what Truman does in America: succeed a great man, while not suffocated by the great man's legacy.
Through the War Years, Attlee's government, and Churchill's postwar government, Eden waits... and waits... and waits. Churchill clings onto the premiership, unwilling to relent until he has seen the British nation through the early years of the Cold War. Eventually, though, Churchill's health compels the lion to lay down the sword, and Eden becomes Prime Minister.
In becoming Prime Minister, Eden seemingly loses the good sense and balance of his Foreign Secretaryship years. On Suez, Eden defies Gamel Nasser's nationalist hopes for the Suez Canal, coming to collude with Israel and France for a military take-over of the key waterway. Eden makes many mistakes, perhaps most not syncing up with the Eisenhower Administration in the States, allowing the United States to hold forth as an objective observer and compel Britain to give up its military schemes in Egypt. Humiliated by its ally and unable to enforce its former imperial will, Britain of course recedes further and Eden fails to survive long as prime minister (succeeded by Harold MacMillan, a one-time ally turned schemer for the top post during the Suez Crisis).
Thorpe lays out a good case that Eden was a remarkable politician and diplomat, and perhaps even more nuanced in his thinking on Suez than history has chosen to remember. However, Eden cannot do what Truman does in America: succeed a great man, while not suffocated by the great man's legacy.
June 15, 2021
This is a fine and balanced biography of Sir Anthony Eden. Eden was a successful Foreign Secretary and an unsuccessful Prime Minister. As Thorpe says in his concluding summation, assessments of Eden's career tend to work backwards from the disaster of Suez, with the result that his many previous achievements are seen merely as a prelude to a catastrophic tenure in 10 Downing Street. This is a disservice to Eden. Thorpe sets out the story in a measured and reasonable manner.
Successful British prime ministers have elsewhere been defined through their abilities to act as "teachers", party managers and readers of the political rhythms. On these counts, Eden failed and, as Thorpe makes clear, these failings were apparent well before the Suez Crisis. But importantly, Thorpe does bring out not only Eden's qualities as a diplomatist but also his empathy and understanding of social issues. Just because Eden never held a domestic Ministerial portfolio, this is not to say that he was not interested or capable of developing a domestic agenda. The tragedy of his premiership is that he never had enough time or focus to do so.
Beautifully written, comprehensive in its coverage and balanced in its approach, this is highly recommended account of an important and tragic figure in British politics.
Successful British prime ministers have elsewhere been defined through their abilities to act as "teachers", party managers and readers of the political rhythms. On these counts, Eden failed and, as Thorpe makes clear, these failings were apparent well before the Suez Crisis. But importantly, Thorpe does bring out not only Eden's qualities as a diplomatist but also his empathy and understanding of social issues. Just because Eden never held a domestic Ministerial portfolio, this is not to say that he was not interested or capable of developing a domestic agenda. The tragedy of his premiership is that he never had enough time or focus to do so.
Beautifully written, comprehensive in its coverage and balanced in its approach, this is highly recommended account of an important and tragic figure in British politics.
November 2, 2021
Thorpe seems to want to convince us of the influence of Eden in world history and also have us believe he was a victim of circumstance. I don't think those ideas really work well together.
I think Thorpe dramatically overcharges the power any individual can have in on history in this book and I don't like the over emphases on the motivations of single actors. Still, this is a well researched book and Thorpe's close ties to the Eden family and the conservative party mean he has filled it with lots of helpful primary evidence and quotes.
I think Thorpe dramatically overcharges the power any individual can have in on history in this book and I don't like the over emphases on the motivations of single actors. Still, this is a well researched book and Thorpe's close ties to the Eden family and the conservative party mean he has filled it with lots of helpful primary evidence and quotes.
January 3, 2026
Brilliant account of Prime Minister Eden’s life and career. Just the right amount of information making it comprehensive without getting bogged down in technicalities.
Author is fair and balanced with his subject, who is often unfairly subject to unwarranted obloquy given the crisis in his Premiership.
One of those rare books I couldn’t put down!
Author is fair and balanced with his subject, who is often unfairly subject to unwarranted obloquy given the crisis in his Premiership.
One of those rare books I couldn’t put down!
February 1, 2014
Sympathetic to Eden. Much less so, in part as a consequence, to others (Churchill, Macmillan, Mountbatten, Eisenhower)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews