The Trouble Makers

by A.J.P. Taylor

Of his own titles this was A.J.P. Taylor's favourite. It is not hard to see why. The title alone provides a strong clue. He would always have an affinity with those engaged in such an activity. Derived from the Ford Lectures of 1956, A.J.P. Taylor in six vivid chapters examines Dissent over British Foreign Policy between 1792 and 1939. In his own words 'it is much the most exciting and interesting book I have written'.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Alan John Percivale Taylor was an English historian of the 20th century and renowned academic who became well known to millions through his popular television lectures.

Reviews

[Ali Khosravi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book explores the well established tradition of dessent in Britain against the 'official' foreign policy of the day from the haydayds of the empire (and even before) with dessenters like George Fox (who like the modern Liam Fox was Eurosceptic) to the inter-war years, the league of nations, appeasement, the primitive labour party and characters like Ramsay McDonald and Arthur Henderson. Such dessenters were rarely questioned (if ever) in terms of their patriotism and their 'love of the land' by either the press or the public. In fact, they argued that they 'loved England way too much to allow her to be involved in conflicts abroad'. I couldn't help but thinking of the modern day dessenter, Jeremy Corbyn, who is shunned by the tabloid press as an 'unpatriotic' enemy of Britain, simply for following a such long-established British tradition of free thought and non-conformism.

The text can be a bit heavy going at times (for the modern reader), but that only shows Taylor's authority over the subject and his mastery of the English language. He described Imperialism as "the bastard child of radicalism" as he explains that many 'well-meaning' radical dessenters like William Gladstone, had a isloationist/non-interventionist appraoch to their continental neighbours (rather like the modern day Brexiteers and their obsession with emerging markets) and wanted to colonise more 'savage' lands beyond Europe. Such radicals were often driven by a strong Christian mission of promoting the Anglican religion of love at gun point by invasion of other countries (e.g. Egypt in 1882).

This paradox of goodness of intentions yet not so good outcomes, reminds the reader of Bush and Blair's Christian mission of democratising Iraq and Afghanistan, an allegedly 'noble' mission which ended up in tatters. There can also be parallels drawn between Lloyd George's disregard for Parliament and obsession with popular opinion (which often meant the opinions of press barons stretched on front pages) and Tony Blair's disregard for Cabinet and obssession with the public image and inevitable pact with the devil that is Rupert Murdoch.

[Adrian Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

History and political analysis as it should be written. Witty, insightful and illuminating and revealing areas of foreign policy that I had never previously considered. Not quite counter-factual but constantly fulfilling. A joy.

[R · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK. Just scan-read: this was still on my shelf from my politics degrees, and while I'm sure it's great, my interests have now moved on.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quirky little book on British foreign policy dissent. AJP Taylor was a master of diplomatic history and a very witty and often funny writer.

[Teddy Dodger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just... boring? Sometimes hard to convert lectures into books.

[JerryDeanHalleck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another short book, about those who dissented from the British foreign policy establishment, from the Napoleonic war through WW II. Full of AJP's "sharp comments".

Typical AJP' sentences:

Even the most extreme Socialist believed that Hitler must be met with alliances and armaments; even the most moderate admitted this could not be done while the National Goverment was in power. The difference was only in emphasis. The official leaders spoke mainly of Hilter, the rebels said "Our danger lies here". But neither would have disputed the truth of the others statement.

Compare this to the pompous jargon and mangled prose you get from 21st Century History!