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Nye: The Political Life of Aneurin Bevan
Aneurin - Nye - Bevan was one of the pivotal Labour figures of the post-war era. As Minister for Health in Attlee's government, his role in the foundation of the NHS, the world's largest publically-funded health service and the centre-piece of the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, changed the face of British society forever. The son of a coal miner from South Wales, Bevan was a life-long champion of social justice and the rights of working people and became one of the leading proponents of Socialist thought in Britain. He was also vehement in his dislike of the Conservative Party - going so far as to oppose the wartime coalition between Attlee and Churchill. Whilst he admired the Marxist critique of capitalism - and felt that the drive for private consumer affluence in the 1950s flew in the face of social good - he was certainly no communist. He was a passionate believer in public ownership but had a complex relationship with the unions, which may have prevented him from becoming party leader.
In this book, acclaimed author Nicklaus Thomas-Symonds provides the first full-life biography of Bevan in over two decades, from his birth in Tredegar in the South Wales Valleys in 1897 to his death from stomach cancer at the age of 62 in 1960. Thomas-Symonds considers not just Bevan's political career but also his upbringing, his career in local government in Wales and his relationship with his wife, and fellow Labour MP, Jennie Lee. Drawing on first-hand interviews as well as recently released sources, he provides a unique portrait of one of the great British statesmen of the twentieth century.
In this book, acclaimed author Nicklaus Thomas-Symonds provides the first full-life biography of Bevan in over two decades, from his birth in Tredegar in the South Wales Valleys in 1897 to his death from stomach cancer at the age of 62 in 1960. Thomas-Symonds considers not just Bevan's political career but also his upbringing, his career in local government in Wales and his relationship with his wife, and fellow Labour MP, Jennie Lee. Drawing on first-hand interviews as well as recently released sources, he provides a unique portrait of one of the great British statesmen of the twentieth century.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2014
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197 people want to read
About the author
Nicklaus Thomas-Symonds
7 books6 followersNicklaus Thomas-Symonds FRHistS is a British academic, barrister and politician who has been Paymaster General, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament for Torfaen since 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 13, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up.
This is a good, balanced and empirical study of one of Britain's greatest parliamentarians. At times, however, it is almost too balanced and too empirical - I can't help but feel that a biography of someone like Bevan needs a bit more life, a bit more love or a bit more hate. Perhaps, this is just me comparing it with Michael Foot's lyrical and, at times, hagiographic, two volume biography, but I think that's only natural Aneurin Bevan. Vol 1: 1897-1945Aneurin Bevan, Vol 2: 1945-1960.
Coming in around 1000 pages shorter than Foot's biographies, this is a much more focused and easily digestible study. It focuses (as the title says) on Bevan's political life, from his introduction in local politics in the early 1920s where he held essentially syndicalist views, to his death in 1960, by which point he was a committed and at times conciliatory parliamentarian. There are little tidbits of gossip contained in this volume too and Thomas-Symonds is more willing than Bevan's close friend Foot to question some of Bevan's actions away from politics.
Through Thomas-Symonds' tracing of Nye Bevan's political life he also presents a clear history of the Labour Party itself - in particular, the section on the 1945-51 government is very good and Thomas-Symonds' analysis of Attlee's role is useful . Unlike Foot, Thomas-Symonds was not a contemporary of the political characters that featured in Bevan's life and he is able to judge them more objectively than Foot (if that's your thing).
This is a good historical biography. Unlike Foot's volumes there is a distance from the subject - both personally and in years- and this enables Thomas-Symonds to write an objective and focused study of Bevan. At times though I did crave some of the warmth, passion and life of Foot's volumes. As such, Nye: The Political Life of Aneurin Bevan is a valuable biography and a helpful aid to understanding Bevan's politics and his career, but to bring Bevan's character to life, Foot's volumes are insurmountable. Read both.
This is a good, balanced and empirical study of one of Britain's greatest parliamentarians. At times, however, it is almost too balanced and too empirical - I can't help but feel that a biography of someone like Bevan needs a bit more life, a bit more love or a bit more hate. Perhaps, this is just me comparing it with Michael Foot's lyrical and, at times, hagiographic, two volume biography, but I think that's only natural Aneurin Bevan. Vol 1: 1897-1945Aneurin Bevan, Vol 2: 1945-1960.
Coming in around 1000 pages shorter than Foot's biographies, this is a much more focused and easily digestible study. It focuses (as the title says) on Bevan's political life, from his introduction in local politics in the early 1920s where he held essentially syndicalist views, to his death in 1960, by which point he was a committed and at times conciliatory parliamentarian. There are little tidbits of gossip contained in this volume too and Thomas-Symonds is more willing than Bevan's close friend Foot to question some of Bevan's actions away from politics.
Through Thomas-Symonds' tracing of Nye Bevan's political life he also presents a clear history of the Labour Party itself - in particular, the section on the 1945-51 government is very good and Thomas-Symonds' analysis of Attlee's role is useful . Unlike Foot, Thomas-Symonds was not a contemporary of the political characters that featured in Bevan's life and he is able to judge them more objectively than Foot (if that's your thing).
This is a good historical biography. Unlike Foot's volumes there is a distance from the subject - both personally and in years- and this enables Thomas-Symonds to write an objective and focused study of Bevan. At times though I did crave some of the warmth, passion and life of Foot's volumes. As such, Nye: The Political Life of Aneurin Bevan is a valuable biography and a helpful aid to understanding Bevan's politics and his career, but to bring Bevan's character to life, Foot's volumes are insurmountable. Read both.
November 5, 2017
A first rate political biography that should remind us of the fight that took place to establish the NHS and the bravery shown by Bevan to win it.
October 31, 2023
I felt there was a lot in there, but that the author isn't a great story teller. I'm not really sure what caused these great splits in the 50s. Typical of the soft left MPs like the author is that there's lots of detail, but no story
July 11, 2015
A solid and wide-ranging biography of a compelling figure. If it at times it skips lightly over seemingly important episodes (as around the creation of the NHS, curiously, where there is a very tight focus on what seems a limited portion of the story), it presents an excellent analysis of Bevan as a man, his motivations and his character.
September 3, 2020
A very well researched, but at times dry, account of the man who set up the NHS. Focusing more on the politics and the policies rather than the man, I found some of it hard going. But it was definitely worth it. The NHS is one of mankind's greatest, most civilising, creations. And at a time when right-wing governments seem intent on tearing down such institutions in search of profits for those who already have the most, this book is a timely reminder of those on the other side who fight and fight to make things better for everyone. Bevan was a great man who deserves his place in history. Thomas-Symonds' book should ensure that he does. It's a pity the progressives in this country are always split between the left - represented in this book by the Bevanites - and the right - the Gaitskillites. All it does is to keep on letting the Conservatives win.
February 16, 2024
This was an incisive, if rather clinical, book that tells the story of Aneurin Bevan and his political achievements - namely, the creation of the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. As someone with a public health background, the lack of a national health service in the USA has long been of concern to me. Particularly as I live with an autoimmune disorder and several other conditions. It's frustratingly difficult to access care, navigate the system, and watch the bill numbers tick up. Ultimately, this was interesting but gave me little hope that the USA will catch up with other nations in this regard. History will not look kindly on our failures to care for our own people, but it was inspiring to see how it was managed elsewhere.
August 2, 2022
A fascinating subject and a fascinating period in history; yet despite it being a thorough account of the political career one of the greatest Labour politicians of the 20th century the book was curiously lacking in spark. For me it was dry, understated and lacking the passion that Nye Bevan clearly had.
October 16, 2025
An excellent and informative biography of one of the most significant political figures of 20th century, certainly one of the most significant not to become Prime Minister. While definitely a supporter, Thomas-Symonds avoids hagiography and is honest in pointing out Bevan's flaws as well as his strengths. Definitely recommended.
August 5, 2019
This book is very dry.
June 19, 2021
Without doubt Nye was a great socialist who made probably the greatest contribution that any Labour politician has ever made to the party, to the wider movement, and to his country. He was there at the right time. This was the first book I'd read on Nye so I can't compare it to the other biographies, but I found it rather dry and plodding. The book has inspired me, however, with a great appreciation for Nye, who was a socialist with humour and hinterland, who wasn't dogmatic and who was interested in people as well as ideas. He had the working class background, and the lived experience, that made his socialism genuine and passionate. He spread hope people could believe in.
If only we had more socialists like Nye in the Labour party. Then we might have a movement to enthuse, inspire and motivate again.
If only we had more socialists like Nye in the Labour party. Then we might have a movement to enthuse, inspire and motivate again.
July 31, 2025
Thomas-Symonds is a lecturer at Oxford University, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has written biographies on Clement Attlee and Harold Wilson. In 2015, he was elected Labour MP for Torfaen and has served in various positions on the Shadow Cabinet. Since July 2024, he has been Paymaster General, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations.
Bevan is most well-remembered for his bold and brilliant work as Minister for Health and the founding of the NHS. He was also the Minister for Housing and worked hard to improve the standards and quality of housing provided to working-class families.
Thomas-Symonds splits his telling of Bevan’s life into five main chapters in the book.
• Bevan’s childhood and youth in South Wales from 1897 to 1919
• Local politics and Monmouthshire County Council from 1919 to 1934
• The move to London, marriage, and his establishment as a national figure between 1934 and 1945
• Bevan’s work as a Cabinet Minister from 1945 to his resignation in 1951
• Bevan in Opposition from 1951 until he died in 1960
Thomas-Symonds has written a detailed and well-sourced biography that draws on previous biographies of Bevan and primary sources. Thomas-Symonds is often balanced and candid about Bevan’s actions, and he seeks to place him in context, fleshing out the personalities and events around him.
It is at times a little dry to read, but that is partly due to the biography’s focus on Bevan’s political life and his achievements rather than his social or emotional life; these elements do feature at points to illustrate Bevan’s personality and character. The complexity and time-consuming nature of politics is expressed and clearly explained to the reader, and the struggle to reach a consensus and pragmatic agreement in political discussions.
Bevan emerges as highly principled and passionate, with a lack of fear to take a path that may make him unpopular within his own Party. His legacy is the NHS and the socialist principles of a health service that is free at the point of delivery and which has saved and enhanced the lives of countless people.
Bevan is most well-remembered for his bold and brilliant work as Minister for Health and the founding of the NHS. He was also the Minister for Housing and worked hard to improve the standards and quality of housing provided to working-class families.
Thomas-Symonds splits his telling of Bevan’s life into five main chapters in the book.
• Bevan’s childhood and youth in South Wales from 1897 to 1919
• Local politics and Monmouthshire County Council from 1919 to 1934
• The move to London, marriage, and his establishment as a national figure between 1934 and 1945
• Bevan’s work as a Cabinet Minister from 1945 to his resignation in 1951
• Bevan in Opposition from 1951 until he died in 1960
Thomas-Symonds has written a detailed and well-sourced biography that draws on previous biographies of Bevan and primary sources. Thomas-Symonds is often balanced and candid about Bevan’s actions, and he seeks to place him in context, fleshing out the personalities and events around him.
It is at times a little dry to read, but that is partly due to the biography’s focus on Bevan’s political life and his achievements rather than his social or emotional life; these elements do feature at points to illustrate Bevan’s personality and character. The complexity and time-consuming nature of politics is expressed and clearly explained to the reader, and the struggle to reach a consensus and pragmatic agreement in political discussions.
Bevan emerges as highly principled and passionate, with a lack of fear to take a path that may make him unpopular within his own Party. His legacy is the NHS and the socialist principles of a health service that is free at the point of delivery and which has saved and enhanced the lives of countless people.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews