Dare to Be a Daniel: Then and Now

by Tony Benn

Born into a family with a strong, radical dissenting tradition in which enterprise and public service were combined, Tony Benn was taught to believe that the greatest sin in life was to waste time and money. Life in his Victorian-Edwardian family home in Westminster was characterised by austerity, the last vestiges of domestic service, the profound influence of his mother, a dedicated Christian and feminist, and his colourful and courageous father, elected as a Liberal MP in 1906 and later serving in Labour Cabinets under Ramsay MacDonald and Clem Atlee. Benn followed in his father's footsteps, becoming one of the most famous and respected figures in modern British politics.

Dare to be a Daniel feelingly recalls Tony Benn's years as one of three brothers experiencing life in the nursery, the agonies of adolescence and of school, where boys were taught to 'keep their minds clean' and the shadow of fascism and the Second World War with its disruption and family loss. This moving memoir also describes his emergence from World War Two as a keen socialist about to embark upon marriage and an unknown political future. The book ends with some of Tony Benn's reflections on many of the most important and controversial issues of our time.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Politics

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Anthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC, formerly 2nd Viscount Stansgate, was a British Labour Party politician. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1951 until 2001, and was a Cabinet Minister under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan in the 1960s and 1970s. After his retirement from the House of Commons, he continued his activism and served as president of the Stop the War Coalition.

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was unsure before I read "Dare to Be a Daniel"... but I am absolutely delighted to say that what I previously believed has been confirmed within....

That Tony Benn is a decent family man... a man of integrity, humility, honesty and passion... a man who trusts his god and the judgement that his god has bestowed upon him. A man that will not support his own comrades out of blind faith and can offer his political weight to an opponent should his opinion agree.

Tony Benn is without doubt a rarity... a true conviction politician that was much riddiculed by the anti-socialist press and throughout kept his faith [political and religious] true...

The world is a better place for people like Tony Benn - Parliament is a sadder place by his absence.

[Diana Apperley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Tony Benn!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable if a bit odd. The first part is quite religious (I don't know why that should surprise me, on reflection); it's entitled "honest doubt", and shows what one might call the nonconformist conscience at work as the background to Tony Benn's life and the influences on his thought; the second part is autobiographical, describing childhood, parents, how he met his wife &c., with some very funny moments - a precursor to the diaries with just a little overlap - and the third part is selections from speeches mainly from his later career, designed to demonstrate where he had arrived from the points described in parts 1 & 2. (Ithink that more or less sums it up). The speeches are at times a bit long-winded but it's worth persevering for the sudden flashes of enlightenment. A reflective book, mostly looking back, but occasionally looking forwards with some surprisingly accurate predictions (and one great colossal mistake, when he thinks that the end of Mrs. Thatcher's career is the end of Thatcherism). The title of the book comes from a Salvation Army hymn.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony Benn spent his long political career 'daring to be a Daniel' and his engaging, thought-provoking memoir offers interesting insights into the influences which shaped his convictions. Whatever your political persuasion I believe it would be difficult not to respect and admire his integrity, both personal and political.
As I read this book I frequently put it down to make notes of quotes which resonated - I include just a few of them:
“I think there are two ways in which people are controlled. First of all frighten people and secondly, demoralise them.”
“Hope is the fuel of progress and fear is the prison in which you put yourself.”
“There is no moral difference between a stealth bomber and a suicide bomber. Both kill innocent people for political reasons.”
“A faith is something you die for, a doctrine is something you kill for. There is all the difference in the world.”

[Farah Mendlesohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigh. If only he had won the Deputy Leadership. Principled, caring, in politics for what he could do for people not what he wanted people to do for him (see the lovely chapter of Francis Spufford's Backroom Boys about Concord).

I really enjoyed this book. I had all the wrong ideas about his family background so this was enlightening.

Make sure you read the chapter on his anti EU feelings. This is the wing of the Labour Party I came from, deeply suspicious of the nature of the project. I voted for Remain mostly because I woudn't buy a used car off the sales people who led the Brexit campaign.

[Madalina Brait · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to rate this book higher but it turned out a bit of a flat task.
Most of the book is in fact about those around Tony rather than himself and it seemed like some detrimental moments have been skipped over.

Now, paired together with some of his other books this might make more sense, but if choosing to read this book on its own, it’s rather disappointing.

The most interesting and refreshing part are the speeches at the end, hence my 2 star. Tony is a great writer and he’s achieved so much, I don’t think this book does him justice.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author had an astonishing background, fun to read but with plenty of pathos as applies to deaths, both personal and world-wide (WW2, the author was around 16 when it began). The half of the book I liked and was enthralled, the second half of the book not so much. It was all politics, most of which does not apply and is outdated. Fascinating, I would theorize, for those who are both British and politically inclined.

[Avesta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never been a fan of autobiographies, since one could just simply go to Wikipedia instead. However, Tony Benn wrote his autobiography in such a way that I couldn’t stop reading it, and it was absolutely worth it. Especially the last parts on socialism, peace and justice. Certainly the best autobiography I’ve read so far.

[Barry Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best political diarists, always worth reading.

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interessante autobiografie van Tony Benn, geliefd en gewaardeerd boegbeeld van old Labour. Vóór dit boek wist ik eigenlijk alleen dat hij pas gestorven was en duidelijk gerespecteerd werd. Ik was verbaasd te leren dat hij is opgegroeid in een upper class gezin met een erg gelovige moeder; niet meteen wat je verwacht van een overtuigde socialist ;) Hij leek me een eerlijk man die zijn taak als vertegenwoordiger van het volk bloedserieus nam. Over het algemeen vond ik echter dat het boek slecht in elkaar zat (veel herhalingen, onduidelijke chronologie), geen pluim voor de editor dus! Wel een interessante selectie van zijn speeches aan het einde van het boek.

[Ian Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often misunderstood and misrepresented but what a charming old geezer he is. In this book he taught me the reasons behind party politics, why it's a good thing, why it's a bad thing. Now I know I feel that, if I can't forgive them, at least I can understand them - politicians!

[Julie Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Tony Benn and admire his principles and what he stood for. Interesting book about his influences and ending with some speeches that he made when he was in parliament.

[Margaret]

I cannot review this book as I have abandoned it. The first chapter I found very interesting, but then it became too political, which I should have expected, and for me boring.