Herbert Morrison: Portrait of a Politician by Bernard Donoughue & G. W. Jones

Herbert Morrison: Portrait of a Politician by Bernard Donoughue & G. W. Jones lands on the shelves of my shop.

Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1973, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black and White Photographs; Tables;

From the cover: Herbert Morrison, who started his working life as an errand boy, was for over forty years at the centre of British political life, and almost became Prime Minister.

This book tells the story of how the young socialist agitator from Lambeth rose to rule London as Britains most famous city boss and then, nationally, shaped the Labour Partys policies and directed its successful electoral strategies. His constant objective, and achievement, was to make Labour a party of Government, rather than of negative opposition, and to keep it firmly within the democratic socialist tradition.

In a succession of Important Cabinet posts, he shared the catastrophe of Ramsay MacDonalds 1931 Government, was Churchills inspired choice to fight the German blitz throughout the war, managed Labours great post-1945 reconstruction programme and ended his career overwhelmed by problems and seemingly inexplicable failures as Foreign Secretary. Out of office in the 1950*8 he suffered the humiliations of political decline and the bitterness of failing in his last bid to win the party leadership.

Although publicly the chirpy cockney sparrow, Herbert Morrison was a deeply complex personality, secretive, vulnerable and inhibited. Obsessed with politics, he neglected his first wife and daughter and warped his private personality. Perpetually surrounded by an entourage of political acquaintances, he was inwardly lonely and sought affection in a network of discreet female friendships, until the Indian Summer of his second marriage.

This book is about Morrison the man and his work rather than the wider history of the times through which he passed. The authors show how Morrison mastered the craft of politics until at his peak he could truly claim to be the most professional politician so far produced by the Labour Party. His relations with many other politicians are described, from the host of rank and file socialists encouraged by him to take a more active role in public life, to such major political figures as Attlee, Bevin, Cripps and Bevan.

In order to obtain this deep focus on Morrison the politician in action, an unusually wide range of official, press and private sources have been used. Most important are over three hundred interviews conducted with Morrisons friends and working associates which add flesh to the central portrait.

Herbert Morrison was a major figure not only in guiding the Labour Party to its great power in the mid-twentieth century, but also in shaping the wider operation of British social democracy. This book permanently establishes his political contribution and stature as well as portraying a truly English character.

Very Good in Good+ Dust Wrapper. Upper panel slightly loose, with the crease not meeting the leading edge of the board.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. [XVI] 696 pages. Index. 9½” x 6¼”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Prime Ministers: From Robert Walpole to Margaret Thatcher by George Malcolm Thomson

Prime Ministers: From Robert Walpole to Margaret Thatcher by George Malcolm Thomson lands on the shelves of my shop.

Nationwide Book Service, 1980, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Facsimiles; Colour Plates;

From the cover: They have come in many shapes and sizes, these forty eight men and one woman who have guided the destiny of Britain from 1721 into the nineteen eighties, from Robert Walpole to Margaret Thatcher. Who could be less alike than the flamboyant Benjamin Disraeli and the almost mouse-like Clement Attlee? Yet the former established a new Tory party and the latter steered a motley crew with immense skill through the shoals of social democracy which had to be navigated after World War II.

In a series of masterly vignettes Mr Thomson traces the development of the Prime Ministerial role, monopolised at first by the aristocracy ruling from the House of Lords and then in the nineteenth century, heyday of the bourgeoisie, by men such as Robert Peel and Gladstone, sitting in the House of Commons. Today it is unthinkable that a peer should be a Prime Minister. The Earl of Home renounced his peerage in a flash when nominated by commoner Harold Macmillan to succeed him and became plain Sir Alec Douglas-Home.

There were great men in the list the elder and younger Pitt; Disraeli and Gladstone, those sworn enemies; Asquith and Lloyd George, the opposing poles of Liberalism; Winston Churchill, as long as there was a war on, and even in peacetime a giant. There were nonentities who remembers Viscount Goderich? But it is Mr Thomsons view that this body of men avoided the major political pitfalls and played their collective part in furthering the democratic ideal.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. A little rubbing to the edges of the dust wrapper, snagged at the tail of the spine. Edges of the text block lightly spotted. Text complete, clean and tight.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. [XXIV] 260 pages. Bibliography. 10″ x 7½”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Britain’s History from the Air by Jane Struthers

Britain’s History from the Air by Jane Struthers lands on the shelves of my shop.

Ebury Press, 1994, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Jacket illustration: Dover Castle. Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Photographs;

From the cover: Here is Britain as never seen before, a birds-eye view of the historic buildings and landscapes which represent our heritage. The castles, palaces, cathedrals and rural landscapes, both legendary and actual, have been captured on film by Jason Hawkes, a photographer of exceptional talent who has recorded each place in stunning compositions. The photographs are captioned by Jane Struthers, supplying fascinating details on the significance of the places in British history.

The lives of kings and queens from ancient times to the present are bound up with the places significant in their lives. In Britains History from the Air many of these are portrayed. The royal castles and palaces Windsor, Caernarfon, Buckingham Palace, Balmoral are depicted in all their architectural grandeur and dignity. The great cathedrals and churches St Pauls, Westminster Abbey, Canterbury and the rest are included, in addition to stately homes, fortifications, public buildings, towns, battlefields and other landscapes, all of which have played their part in Britains history.

With 100 full-colour photographs and many additional historic and documentary illustrations, Britains History from the Air offers a visual feast and an absorbing and original view of our island story.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Price Clipped. Gently bruised at the head of the spine and the top corners of the boards with commensurate wear to the dust wrapper. Text complete, clean and tight.

Matching Pictorial boards. 144 pages. Index. 10¾” x 11¾”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!