book data
56 ratings,
3.98
average rating, 16 reviews
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published
May 2nd 2008
(first published 2007)
by Pan Books
binding
Paperback, 629 pages
isbn
0330439839
(isbn13: 9780330439831)
description
A History of Modern Britain confronts head-on the victory of shopping over politics. It tells the story of how the great political visions of New Jeru...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 107)
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avg 3.98
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in August, 2008
I think Andrew Marr should have titled the book A history of Modern British Government. The Book was just talking about past british government and their policies. It will make a good text book for A level History and Political students than for ordinary people or immigrants who wants to learn about the Beauty of the Isle of Britain.
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A reasonable compendium of basic information. Doesn't rise above what you would expect of a journalist. Lots of implicit biases. In particular, the authors contempt for all British politicians, which makes you wonder why he also rails against (no, actually, sneers against) what he sees as the abandonment of British sovereignty to Brussels. You'd think, with politicians like these to run their own government, the British are well quit of their soverignty...
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone who, like me, believes they need a history lesson but would rather read a novel
Fabulously readable account of modern Britain told with the wit you'd expect of Andrew Marr. It's not just about politics, but also a social history.
Marr casts a critical, yet fond, eye over we British and our leaders. There's no discernible political bias - successive governments have their strengths and weaknesses appraised.
Having lived most of my adult life in times of relative wealth for Britain, I was surprised at just what a desperate state our economy was in during my childho...more
Marr casts a critical, yet fond, eye over we British and our leaders. There's no discernible political bias - successive governments have their strengths and weaknesses appraised.
Having lived most of my adult life in times of relative wealth for Britain, I was surprised at just what a desperate state our economy was in during my childho...more
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Any political Brit will love this. It provides an unbiased view of British social modern history through the context of the political climate of the time. Goes from 1945 to present day.
It is interesting how economically knackered the UK was in the 1940's, yet this became a driving force for the national health service - perhaps, given the circumstances, the biggest undertaking of any government ever.
The prologue which starts with the fall of the Britain Empire was eerily...more
It is interesting how economically knackered the UK was in the 1940's, yet this became a driving force for the national health service - perhaps, given the circumstances, the biggest undertaking of any government ever.
The prologue which starts with the fall of the Britain Empire was eerily...more
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I'm not finished, but strangely I can't get this to appear in the "reading" column. For a history book its a good read. The post-war austerity stuff, creation of the NHS was all very interesting in a broad brush sort of way. It is broad-brush a primer on the subject if you like and he is a journalist so there is some of that style there. I personally like that sort of writing though and it suits me that way.
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This book was very helpful in filling in a strange vacuum of knowledge post 1945 which has always embarrassed me....what exactly happened re Suez? How did we end up with the power cuts and the 3 day week? All this and more, with balance.. enough facts to fill the gaps, yet brief enough on each episode to retain the attention. Should not have reached my age without knowing some of this stuff.
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the first history book i have ever read that i can remember what i am reading. The narrative flows well, explains the complexity of events without getting bogged down.
I was helped by reading most of it when staying in a superb 1960s house with a cupboard full of press cuttings and magazine articles from the post war period.
I was helped by reading most of it when staying in a superb 1960s house with a cupboard full of press cuttings and magazine articles from the post war period.
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Having specialised in post 1945 Britain for a masters I was sceptical whether this would add anything but it did. A brilliant mixture of the texture of how people lived and political commentary all told in the crisp style that makes Andew Marr such a pleasure as a writer and commentator.
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I found it tailored off towards the end, either because I remember this era (& don't really agree with his viewpoint), or because it is too recent for Andrew Marr to reflect on & that he was too involved with at the time and has not distanced himself from these times.
Read in May, 2009
A real masterpiece. Efficient, effective writing style meant that reading this was never a chore. It was never dry and dusty. I bet he's itching to do a final chapter based on what's happened even since the time he wrote this and the preface to the paperback!
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This is a very readable walk through the (mostly political) history of Britain since 1945 - well worth the effort, if only to realise how lightweight our Governments have been compared with the Attlee Labour government of 1945, and what it achieved.
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Read in September, 2007
Fantastic book for history buffs and anyone who's just curious about the recent past. Written in an easy informative style. Not at all dry and dusty. Nearly as good as the excellent Tv series.
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It's quite interesting getting a in-depth view of British History after WWII from a perspective that isn't american. It is taking a while to get through.
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Read in May, 2009
Clear, concise, informative, funny, educational, passionate and fluently written.
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Its very well written, with a very interesting take on modern British history
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