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The Castle Diaries 1964-1976 -
'Barbara Castle's diary shows more about the nature of Cabinet government than any previous publication...it is compulsive reading.' London Review of Books.
Mrs Castle has now abridged her original two-volume text for this one-volume edition to offer a concise yet comprehensive and controversial day-by-day account of her experience as a Cabinet Minister in the Labour governments of Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. With characteristic frankness and a sharp cutting-edge of wit, she throws revealing new light on colleagues and opponents.
Mrs Castle has now abridged her original two-volume text for this one-volume edition to offer a concise yet comprehensive and controversial day-by-day account of her experience as a Cabinet Minister in the Labour governments of Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. With characteristic frankness and a sharp cutting-edge of wit, she throws revealing new light on colleagues and opponents.
- GenresNonfiction
816 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1990
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August 11, 2022
Barbara Castle is one of the famous triumvirate of Labour diarists who documented the governments of Harold Wilson from the mid 60s to the mid 70s. Richard Crossman being the first and Tony Benn being the most famous (if only for the long period he ended up documenting - his published diaries cover more or less the period from WWII through to the coalition government headed by David Cameron).
I have to say I have a political attachment to the Wilson years and I will hoover up any books about that era and it’s key figures.
Whilst Benn’s diaries were always interesting - partly for the insight into the internal backstabbing of the Labour Party as well as the self righteous ambition of Benn himself, I have to say I found Castle’s diaries a bit dry. They were very much focused on policy (but what policy - in the 60s she was the minister who tried to get through the Industrial relations policy ‘In Place of Strife’ and in the second Wilson Government was in charge of Social Services). There isn’t a great deal here either about her private life or the internal machinations of the party - which is a shame for such a hefty book (or in this case an abridged version of two books).
What I did find interesting is the sheer amount of work she took on herself. I know from being a member of the civil service that today’s ministers have a large coterie of staff and officials who will draft speeches and submissions on behalf of their Minister. Castle gives the impression she does most of this herself!
There were a few interesting entries about the Falkland Islands - proof that this was not an issue that had risen from nowhere in the early 80s - trouble had been brewing for at least a decade before.
It’s interesting in retrospect that the great diarists of that era were all from the left of the party - and you end up wondering why? Is it because they want open government, or is it driven more by paranoia in that they feel the need for their version of events to shape the popular narrative.
In hindsight you wish you could read contemporaneous diaries from someone like Dennis Healey or Roy Jenkins but you get the impression they were more interested in getting on with the job rather than settling scores.
I have to say I have a political attachment to the Wilson years and I will hoover up any books about that era and it’s key figures.
Whilst Benn’s diaries were always interesting - partly for the insight into the internal backstabbing of the Labour Party as well as the self righteous ambition of Benn himself, I have to say I found Castle’s diaries a bit dry. They were very much focused on policy (but what policy - in the 60s she was the minister who tried to get through the Industrial relations policy ‘In Place of Strife’ and in the second Wilson Government was in charge of Social Services). There isn’t a great deal here either about her private life or the internal machinations of the party - which is a shame for such a hefty book (or in this case an abridged version of two books).
What I did find interesting is the sheer amount of work she took on herself. I know from being a member of the civil service that today’s ministers have a large coterie of staff and officials who will draft speeches and submissions on behalf of their Minister. Castle gives the impression she does most of this herself!
There were a few interesting entries about the Falkland Islands - proof that this was not an issue that had risen from nowhere in the early 80s - trouble had been brewing for at least a decade before.
It’s interesting in retrospect that the great diarists of that era were all from the left of the party - and you end up wondering why? Is it because they want open government, or is it driven more by paranoia in that they feel the need for their version of events to shape the popular narrative.
In hindsight you wish you could read contemporaneous diaries from someone like Dennis Healey or Roy Jenkins but you get the impression they were more interested in getting on with the job rather than settling scores.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review