No comments about Mr. Gladstone: A study.

No comments about Lady Thatcher: A Portrait.

No comments about The Gladstone Diaries: Volume VIII: July 1871-December 1874 (Gladstone Diaries).

No comments about Not Winston, Just William? Winston Churchill at Harrow School.

1 comments about Some of Us: People Who Did Well Under Thatcher.

1. Even though I don't share Critchley's political leanings (until his retirement from politics, he was one of the most prominent "wet" Tory critics of Thatcherism), his portraits of Mrs Thatcher's men (and one woman -- Edwina Currie) are so well- etched (in acid ink) that one can't help chuckling or even at times bursting into laughter. For instance, he points out that in any group photo of Thatcherites, you would have immediately recognised Nick Ridley -- he was the one with the cigarette. Some of the humour may not be apparent to those who haven't closely followed British politics, though.

No comments about Winston Churchill.

No comments about Winston Churchill: His Finest Hour.

1 comments about The World According to Margaret Thatcher (The World According to series).

1. It is interesting to read a book about a modern political figure where it is completely obvious that the author(s) would never have voted for her in a million years. And yet you can tell that they have tried very hard to be "balanced". What you end up with is a book that relates the facts carefully but the use of adjectives leaves little question of the authors' opinion. The authors also tend to overstate the negatives so that contrary opinions held by small minorities are given equal weight to the prevailing wisdom with little indication. Occasionally they throw their act of impartiality out the window like when they name a chapter "Margaret Defends the Indefensible". That gave me a good laugh.
   
   If you are looking for a SHORT (135 page) overview of Thatcher and her times this one isn't bad. Aside from the obvious bias, the book does suffer for its length. For example, several chapters focus on the "poll tax" and its roll in her downfall without ever actually explaining what this tax involved or why it was unpopular.
   
   Overall it is was a quick and simple read; it gives the basic details and can serve as an aid to further reading. Other than that, it offers little.

2 comments about Winston s Churchill: Man of the Twentieth Century.

1. Most Churchill books are hagiographies, and most suffer from similarity. This book does not fall into such banality. It is thoughtful, discusses a myriad of topics and is even-balanced in its assessment of Churchill. In comparing Churchill to other 20th century leaders, thinkers, innovators and personalities, Read helps set Churchill's historical record in perspective and deals with the faults as well as the merits of an interesting man.



2. It is well researched, however Read could have used more original source notes and some sections need improvement in source backup and detail. However the book is balanced, not a hagiography and makes a good addition to anyone's collection on Churchill.

No comments about The Last Lion Part B: Winston Spencer Churchill, Alone, 1932-1940.