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Margaret Thatcher: Grocer's Daughter to Iron Lady
When Margaret Thatcher unexpectedly emerged to challenge Edward Heath for the Conservative leadership in 1975, the public knew her only as an archetypal Home Counties Tory Lady, more famous for her hats than for any outstanding talent: she had a rich businessman husband, sent her children to the most expensive private schools, owned houses in Kent and Chelsea, and sat in P...more
Paperback, 576 pages
Published
June 1st 2009
by Vintage Books
(first published 2009)
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I started reading this book after I watched the movie. Probably a big mistake because the movie was much, much better in my opinion. Maybe it's because I've only just turned fourteen and even though I am mature for my age this book talked a lot about politics, something I daresay I don't know very much about. I read the first few chapters and I liked them but things got slower and slower and I read a few pages before I got bored and decided to read another book or do something else. I kept putti...more
John Campbell's extraordinarily fascinating volume (abridged from the original two-volumes) strikes me as the ideal survey for American readers of the political life and times of the most significant British prime minister between Churchill and Blair. Thatcher's legacy is both consequential and complex, and Campbell manages to give credit where it is due while taking note of her failures. His capacity for spotting the paradoxes of her record -- a free-marketeer who advanced the centralization of...more
For all those that might have or plan to see the movie "The Iron Lady" I would highly recommend you read this book, which goes into far more detail on the accomplishments she had in her life which is quite extensive and has had far reaching impacts. In fact I fear the movie glosses over quite a bit of what Ms. Thatcher actually accomplished and the hurdles she had to overcome. For those interested in politics or simply the story of a woman who overcame all obstacles and came to be seen not for h...more
I have always been a fan of biographies... I find it fascinating to hear people's life stories - to find out where they have come from, and learn about the journey that brought them to where they ended up.
After watching the film, I decided to read a biography of Margaret Thatcher; also titled "The Iron Lady". John Campbell has written two larger volumes recording Thatcher's life, and this biography is an edited and shortened (!!) version of those two volumes. I'm not normally one for political b...more
After watching the film, I decided to read a biography of Margaret Thatcher; also titled "The Iron Lady". John Campbell has written two larger volumes recording Thatcher's life, and this biography is an edited and shortened (!!) version of those two volumes. I'm not normally one for political b...more
The Thatcher era was my formative years. Incidentally, it was during those years, in 1984, that Hong Kong’s future was decided, i.e. to be returned to the sovereignty of China in 1997. Naturally, as a Hong Kong resident, I paid particular attention to the parts of the book where Hong Kong were mentioned. Indeed, I didn’t realise that the Iron Lady showed a keen interest in Hong Kong. The book mentions that:
“Between 1992 and 1997 she probably devoted more time to Hong Kong than to any other subje...more
“Between 1992 and 1997 she probably devoted more time to Hong Kong than to any other subje...more
This book was not so much a biography as an opinion piece on Lady Thatcher's political career. From the very first chapter, the reader is left with little doubt as to Campbell's personal opinion.
For those interested in such an opinion piece - which is a valid thing to read, just not disguised as a dispassionate biography - keep in mind a couple of things: first, this edition is an abridgement of two longer editions and pretty much everything outside of Mrs. Thatcher's political life is cut. Ther...more
For those interested in such an opinion piece - which is a valid thing to read, just not disguised as a dispassionate biography - keep in mind a couple of things: first, this edition is an abridgement of two longer editions and pretty much everything outside of Mrs. Thatcher's political life is cut. Ther...more
This is a great book for anyone interested in Margaret Thatcher political life and achievements. The book itself is far from particularly positive about Margaret, but it definitely brings an interesting perspective of her. Margaret knew what she wanted and would push for it as few would be able to, but before taking a position she would fiercely question and debate that same path, even changing her view in the process. She had to compromise in many things whilst building her career. And even in...more
This book is written well so it gets one star. It is also thorough and expounds on the research with accuracy. So another star. Is it biased? Meh. Not too badly. It gives Thatcher a lot of credit but also points out her flaws, both political and,may be, personal. What this book fails at is aiding the reader along with the intricacies of the British political system and assuming he/she knows more than the average person about British culture in general and politics in particular. Sure, one could...more
A thoroughly researched and interesting portrayal of one of the 20th centuries most beloved, yet controversial, leaders. There is no doubt that Lady Thatcher's legacy will live on for centuries to come. Campbell does a good job of explaining her policies, triumphs, and failures.
However, I am a bit disappointed that this was bordering on political opinion instead of a biography. There is no doubt that one's opinions are relevant when writing a biography. Nevertheless, it is clearly apparent that...more
However, I am a bit disappointed that this was bordering on political opinion instead of a biography. There is no doubt that one's opinions are relevant when writing a biography. Nevertheless, it is clearly apparent that...more
I thought this was a very well-researched study of the rise and fall of Margaret Thatcher. I found myself changing my mind on a number of issues as a result of the book. What I like about the author's perspective is that he criticizes Thatcher on many of the issues that she herself champions: intellectual consistency, anti-corruption, honesty and the role of the market. As a result of reading this book, I developed a more nuanced sense of why I ultimately dislike Thatcher's political style, part...more
While I find the late prime minister' s politics to be disagreeable, the book is very well written, and far more balanced than I could have been. I was drawn to the book out of an interest of the time period, having lived in Britain briefly during the 80's. Whether explicitly or not, the book illustrates how Margaret Thatcher was a product of her times, growing up middle class in the shadow of the Second World War. Britain was beginning to turn towards the right in the 1970's. It is a bit of an...more
Interesting rather than enjoyable.
Meryl Streep ... Margaret Thatcher
Jim Broadbent ... Denis Thatcher
Susan Brown ... June
Alice da Cunha ... Cleaner
Phoebe Waller-Bridge ... Susie
Iain Glen ... Alfred Roberts
Alexandra Roach ... Young Margaret Thatcher
Victoria Bewick ... Muriel Roberts
Emma Dewhurst ... Beatrice Roberts
Olivia Colman ... Carol Thatcher
Harry Lloyd ... Young Denis Thatcher
Meryl Streep ... Margaret Thatcher
Jim Broadbent ... Denis Thatcher
Susan Brown ... June
Alice da Cunha ... Cleaner
Phoebe Waller-Bridge ... Susie
Iain Glen ... Alfred Roberts
Alexandra Roach ... Young Margaret Thatcher
Victoria Bewick ... Muriel Roberts
Emma Dewhurst ... Beatrice Roberts
Olivia Colman ... Carol Thatcher
Harry Lloyd ... Young Denis Thatcher
Being coincided with the death and the funeral ceremony of Margaret Thatcher, while I was reading this, I am still in a process of digesting huge amount of information I have come across over this divisive figure...
I simply enjoyed reading this book partly because I lived through the 1980's mostly as a teenager and setting my mind back to think about the Cold War issues once again brought me a certain nostalgia for the long lost era.
This book is more about political views and analysis of them, r...more
I simply enjoyed reading this book partly because I lived through the 1980's mostly as a teenager and setting my mind back to think about the Cold War issues once again brought me a certain nostalgia for the long lost era.
This book is more about political views and analysis of them, r...more
To paraphrase an old adage, "all politics and nothing else makes a dull biography." At least for me.
Margaret Thatcher certainly had a major influence on Britain and the world. She got there through a obsessive focus on politics and very little else. I suppose that my appetite for the details of British politics just isn't great enough to sustain my interest through the book.
Margaret Thatcher certainly had a major influence on Britain and the world. She got there through a obsessive focus on politics and very little else. I suppose that my appetite for the details of British politics just isn't great enough to sustain my interest through the book.
The driest and most detailed biography I have ever read. Written with high journalistic integrity and excruciating detail. Not for fans of biographies. This book is so dry that it should be used as a reference book for students writing papers rather than as a book for leisurely reading.
The title is fascinating and it is the best part of this book. This book neglects Margaret Thatcher's path to power to a certain extent and overemphasizes policies. I suspect that the author made the book so dry...more
The title is fascinating and it is the best part of this book. This book neglects Margaret Thatcher's path to power to a certain extent and overemphasizes policies. I suspect that the author made the book so dry...more
This has been my serious read of the month, and I'm still only about a quarter of the way through (its a BIG book) but I'm loving it. I don't remember too much about Thatcher, but I find her absolutely fascinating. Whatever you thought of her policies and hard-line tactics, you've got to admit she was a pretty phenomenal woman. I always enjoy a good biography and this one is triply good because its biography, history and politics all rolled into one. If you've seen the recent film (insterestingl...more
I believe this edition was an edited from the original,more lengthy publication. As such, I found the reading a bit choppy. It was interesting to read more about Lady Thatcher, a prominent figure in my earlier years.
A little hard to get through if you are not familiar with all of the characters in English politics, but worth the effort. Much, much, much better than the movie which is just fluff.
Being the abridged version I think it lost a lot of the colour and detail that would have made it a four or a five, but as an overview it did the job.
First book read entirely on the Kindle too.
First book read entirely on the Kindle too.
If you are not well informed about the British political system, you may want to read about that first. It would be beneficial to following along. This author wrote this as a biography, but there is no doubt about his personal feelings for Margaret Thatcher.
This woman was so driven in her career, she had tunnel vision. I only got 7% of this done, and could not read anymore it was too much for me.
While this book was not very interesting during the first 150 pages, it turned out to be a great read thereafter and I learnt a lot about Ms. Thatcher and her years in government - which is saying a lot, because I thought I knew these subjects pretty well. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in current politics, political strategy in practice, women in politics and the history of the European Union or transatlantic relations.
Disappointing. I expected more. Much better than the movie which was abominable.
Didn't make me want to see the movie, but I'm glad I read it
Can't wait to read it all.
A little slow.
Mar 21, 2013
Angela
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
riverview-book-club,
didn-t-finish
I don't know a thing about the British political system which is too bad because it's going to make enjoying this book impossible. Twenty pages in and I'm in way over my head.
Interesting biography of Lady Thacher. The "Iron Lady" is an apt description of the PM. A workaholic, strong willed, very conservative for the most part and able to see opposing views and accept them when expedient. Mrs. Thacher shows an unwillingness to consider an opposing view or method when she was totally committed to her course of action. She is a legend throughout the world.
Great book about the early life of Margaret. It gets a little bogged down once you get to her second term, but for the most part, this is a great book about one of the greatest women to ever be a global leader.
Finally a good book came to an end. A good book, written in details of the tenure of the worlds most admired, charming, brave and intelligent leader.
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John Campbell (born 1947) is a British political writer and biographer. He is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh. His works include biographies of Lloyd George, Roy Jenkins, F.E. Smith, Aneurin Bevan, Edward Heath, and Margaret Thatcher, the last consisting of two volumes, The Grocer's Daughter (2000) and The Iron Lady (2003). A one-volume abridgment prepared by David Freeman (a historian o...more
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May 08, 2013 04:50am