Turning Points
Crisis and Change in Modern Britain
Published on 5. September 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
416 pages
978-1-0350-1536-8 (ISBN)
Description
The Times - Best Politics and Current Affairs Books of the Year
An entertaining and revealing history of modern British politics - and the pivotal moments that got us where we are now. From Steve Richards, broadcaster, journalist, and author of The Prime Ministers We Never Had.
Every few weeks in British politics, a columnist will reach for the word 'unprecedented' as a cabinet minister resigns or yet another inquiry is called. In this magisterial history, respected broadcaster and journalist Steve Richards puts the chaos into context.
Blending anecdote and analysis, Richards takes a step back to explore ten critical moments that have shaped modern Britain - from the Suez Crisis of 1956 to the Covid-19 pandemic, from 1945 to Thatcher.
Richards argues that it is only with distance that we can perceive the tectonic plates shifting - and events that may seem earth-shattering in the moment might be a passing tremor with the perspective of history.
A must-read for anyone seeking to understand our nation, this landmark work is enlightening and entertaining in equal measure.
'Through wonderful vignettes, Richards offers a masterful, clear-eyed and, above all, entertaining history of British politics' - Will Hutton, Observer columnist
'Steve Richards is one of the shrewdest political commentators we have' - Andrew Marr, author of The Making of Modern Britain
An entertaining and revealing history of modern British politics - and the pivotal moments that got us where we are now. From Steve Richards, broadcaster, journalist, and author of The Prime Ministers We Never Had.
Every few weeks in British politics, a columnist will reach for the word 'unprecedented' as a cabinet minister resigns or yet another inquiry is called. In this magisterial history, respected broadcaster and journalist Steve Richards puts the chaos into context.
Blending anecdote and analysis, Richards takes a step back to explore ten critical moments that have shaped modern Britain - from the Suez Crisis of 1956 to the Covid-19 pandemic, from 1945 to Thatcher.
Richards argues that it is only with distance that we can perceive the tectonic plates shifting - and events that may seem earth-shattering in the moment might be a passing tremor with the perspective of history.
A must-read for anyone seeking to understand our nation, this landmark work is enlightening and entertaining in equal measure.
'Through wonderful vignettes, Richards offers a masterful, clear-eyed and, above all, entertaining history of British politics' - Will Hutton, Observer columnist
'Steve Richards is one of the shrewdest political commentators we have' - Andrew Marr, author of The Making of Modern Britain
Reviews / Votes
Steve Richards is one of the shrewdest political commentators we have -- Andrew Marr, author of <i>The Making of Modern Britain</i> So many turning points, so little real turning. Through wonderful vignettes, Richards offers a masterful, clear-eyed and, above all, entertaining history of British politics. To pilot a better future, we need to learn how not to repeat the mistakes of the past. The book is a lesson in just that -- Will Hutton, <i>Observer</i> columnist A wonderful book to savour. Only Richards can take you on a journey that flies so gracefully above the hurly-burly of politics and explain what's actually going on -- Isabel Hardman, author of <i>Why We Get the Wrong Politicians</i> An engaging canter through postwar Britain . . . shaped by a lifetime of reading -- <i>Prospect</i> A masterly account. Insightful, thoughtful and above all full of empathy, Turning Points is a work of understanding as well as scholarship -- Gavin Esler, journalist and author of <i>How Britain Ends</i> A pure pleasure to read. Richards is the ideal companion for anyone wishing to taste, feel and understand the ebbs and flows of the British experience since the end of the Second World War. The key characters live and breathe in his pages -- Peter Hennessy, historian and author of <i>A Duty of Care</i>More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
507 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-0350-1536-8 (9781035015368)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Steve Richards is a political columnist, journalist, author and presenter. He regularly presents The Week in Westminster on BBC Radio 4 and has presented BBC series on Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn. He is the author of The Prime Ministers and The Prime Ministers We Never Had, the latter of which was named a 'Book of the Year' in The Guardian and The Times.
He writes for several national newspapers including the Guardian, the Independent and the Financial Times. He also presents a popular political one-man show each year at the Edinburgh Festival and across the UK.
He writes for several national newspapers including the Guardian, the Independent and the Financial Times. He also presents a popular political one-man show each year at the Edinburgh Festival and across the UK.