British Prime Ministers and Other Essays

A.J.P. Taylor (1906-90) must have a reasonable claim to be the most popular and influential British historian of the 20th century. Through his books, lectures, reviews and television appearances he made history accessible, controversial and enjoyable. His brilliant ability to communicate shines through in this publication of this new group of uncollected pieces, "British Prime Ministers" and other essays". These pieces show the whole breadth of Taylor's achievement in the short form he made his own - from full-blown lectures to brief reviews for the Observer - and celebrate his formidable gifts of concision wit and enthusiasm. Taylor wrote with equal relish about British domestic politics and European diplomacy and there are fine examples of both here - from his sketches of individual prime ministers to the complete texts of "How wars begin" and How wars end". Alongside other essays and reviews, this collection also publishes his entertaining and moving account of reaching his 80th birthday: "there are worse things than being 80. Some people tell me that being 81 is one of them. I am curious to verify this".