Dancing with Dogma: Britain Under Thatcherism

by Ian Gilmour

This 24-copy carton includes three copies free. (50% discount)

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, British Literature

448 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1992

Reviews

[Richard Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living through the times, I enjoyed this wet's account of life under the blessed Margaret before her innate authoritarianism and self belief turned close to megalomania. In other words, no-one said to her might you be wrong. Having noted that, she was cautious and until the end of her rule, she knew how far she could go and no further. She was too sensible to privatise the railways or the post office for example. The idolising of her by silly Tory scribblers now where she could do no wrong and brook no obstacles has a parallel with the adulation of St Ron of Reagan in the USA where a false memory of his rhetoric blots out a canny politician's realism.

A good book nicely written.

[Dan Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A generally entertaining read by someone who comes across as knowledgeable and reasonable. I learnt a great deal about the Thatcher years and gained a much better understanding of some of the issues. The author had strong views in particular on macroeconomic policy and, while I don't have the expertise in this area to be able to determine if he was right, much of this seems plausible to me.

The author does a reasonable job of separating his political / policy differences with colleagues from personal differences. Indeed, although the book as a whole is 90% a scathing attack on Thatcherism, he does not come across as being antipathetic to her personally. He's also big enough to admit where he thinks she got things right and did well (you, the reader, may not agree....)

Well worth a read for the accessible explanation of the issues and for the insight into what went on inside the government.