Distilling the Frenzy: Writing the History of One's Own Times

(Paperback)

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Description

Britain's leading contemporary historian revisits and expounds upon the grand themes that have run throughout twentieth and twenty-first-century Britain, including the abiding trends of the post-war era Britain's persistent impulse to punch well above its weight in the world; the sustenance of a nuclear weapons policy which has accompanied that impulse and the secrecy that has too often concealed it; the contrasting styles and achievements of post-war prime ministers from Attlee to Cameron; the successes and failures of major constitutional reform.

Reviews

"As you would expect from Hennessy, his account is lively, personal, pungent, entertaining and instructive - I found this discursive account such a generous, cheering and stimulating read." The Oldie "A wonderful half-term report on the Coalition." Evening Standard "Hennessy is a master of the spoken, as well as of the written, word deployed in relaxed, conversational style." Lord Lexden, The House "This fascinating and lucidly written book derives from a series of lectures given by the author in 2011 - It also provides a useful canter through British defence reviews, those fraught and contentious battles over strategy, equipment, and resources." Routledge

Author Bio

Peter Hennessy, Baron Hennessy of Nympsfield, is Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History at Queen Mary, University of London.