Promotional Information

The third part in A.N. Wilson's magisterial history of Britain, which includes the critically acclaimed and bestselling The Victorians and After the Victorians, brings the reader up to the present day.

About the Author

A.N. Wilson was born in 1950 and educated at Rugby and New College, Oxford. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, he holds a prominent position in the world of literature and journalism. He is an award-winning biographer and a celebrated novelist, winning prizes for much of his work. He lives in North London.

Reviews

A very funny, extremely opinionated, always provocative and often thoughtful read... Wilson is endlessly entertaining
*Observer*

One of the most important books of recent years
*Daily Mail*

This is an enormously enjoyable book, a non-systematic, chatty and wilful piece of work, slaloming through familiar terrain with brio and dash rather than statistics and documents
*Spectator*

The story is told with a verve that catches the excitement of a turbulent era
*The Times*

A sweeping, masterly distillation of the past 55 years in Britain, acknowledging the incredible changes since the Queen took the throne in 1953 ... while also lamenting what has been lost
*Books of the Year, Daily Mail*

A very funny, extremely opinionated, always provocative and often thoughtful read... Wilson is endlessly entertaining -- Dominic Sandbrook * Observer *
One of the most important books of recent years * Daily Mail *
This is an enormously enjoyable book, a non-systematic, chatty and wilful piece of work, slaloming through familiar terrain with brio and dash rather than statistics and documents -- Sam Leith * Spectator *
The story is told with a verve that catches the excitement of a turbulent era -- Roy Hattersley * The Times *
A sweeping, masterly distillation of the past 55 years in Britain, acknowledging the incredible changes since the Queen took the throne in 1953 ... while also lamenting what has been lost * Books of the Year, Daily Mail *

In this history of post-World War II Britain, the conclusion to a trilogy begun with The Victorians and After the Victorians, British author Wilson argues that not only has Britain changed but that it "no longer exists." It's a situation he mourns and blames primarily upon New Labour politicians but sees as a nearly inevitable outcome after the war. Alternating between sociological analysis and summary analysis of the period's prime ministers, Wilson produces a history that even those not familiar with Great Britain will find fascinating, especially if they understand that this history contains consists of many personal reflections and does not aim to be objective. Much of the story has already been covered in Hugo Young's This Blessed Plot: Britain and Europe from Churchill to Blair, but Wilson's creative contribution lies in his many allusions to literature, drama, and music as metaphors for Britain's experience. VERDICT Most readers will find some way to disagree with Wilson, who is anti-immigration, anti-Beatles, anti-death penalty, and pro-gay rights. His book will appeal most to those looking for a sweeping history of postwar Great Britain and who concur that, with a few exceptions, Britain has changed for the worse since World War II.-Michael Farrell, Reformed Theological Seminary Lib., Oviedo, FL Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.