Elizabeth's Britain, 1926-1986

by Philip Ziegler

Book by Ziegler, Philip

352 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1986

About the author

Philip Ziegler was a British biographer and historian known for his meticulously researched works on historical figures and events. After studying at Eton and New College, Oxford, he served in the British Foreign Service, with postings in Laos, South Africa, Colombia, and NATO. He later transitioned into publishing and writing, eventually becoming a distinguished biographer.
His notable works include Mountbatten: The Official Biography, Edward VIII: The Official Biography, and The Black Death. He also wrote about figures such as Lord Melbourne, Harold Wilson, and George VI. Over the years, Ziegler contributed to major publications like The Spectator, The Times, and History Today.
His personal life was marked by tragedy when his first wife was killed during a home invasion in Bogotá in 1967. He later remarried and continued his literary career until his passing in 2023 at the age of 93.

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borrowed this book from my parents' bookshelf, it actually belonged to a grandparent and I'd chosen it rather sentimentally. That said, once I'd started and realised what this book was really about, I was always going to be absorbed by it. The book, written in 1986, describes how Britain has prospered, struggled, changed, persevered during The Queen's first 60 years of life. It's fascinating to read this now, with the same monarch in place - even the author is still alive too. This book tells us that some things have been the way they are for decades, centuries even; while others are more modern phenomena. And politicians and their parties will always have ups and downs.