'The role of women in our society has changed out of all recognition. But it has changed least in the House of Commons. I want to describe those changes and the resistances to them through the magnifying glass of my own life, a life that coincides with our turbulent post-war history.' Shirley Williams was born to politics. As well as being influenced by her mother, Vera Brittian, her father George Caitlin, a leading political scientist, encouraged his daughter to have high ambitions for herself - including daring to climb the bookshelves in his library. Elected as MP for Hitchin in 1964, she was a member of the Wilson and Callaghan governments and was also the Secretary of State for Education. As one of the 'Gang of Four' Shirley Williams famously broke away from the Labour Party to found the SDP in 1981 and later supported its merger with the Liberal Party to form the Liberal Democrats. CLIMBING THE BOOKSHELVES is the voice of strong and passionate woman of luminous intelligence.
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Book Description
* The inspirational autobiography of Shirley Williams - a good and much-loved politician - out now in paperback
--This text refers to the
Perfect Paperback
edition.
About the Author
Shirley Williams was born to Vera Brittain in 1930. She was a member of the Labour Party for 35 years before later becoming leader of the Liberal Democrats. She continues to lecture and serves as an advisor on Nuclear Proliferation to Gordon Brown.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 41 people found the following review helpful
By Liz C
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Shirley Williams writes very well and ironically, I particularly enjoyed the part of her book dealing with her life before she went into politics. She is an honest chronicler but occasionally, particularly when dealing with painful personal episodes, one feels slightly frustrated by what is left out. Overall, however, this is an engaging and fascinating account from one of the most able women in politics.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Miriam Moss
Format:Paperback
I prioritised reading this book after being unable to hear a talk by her at the Edinburgh Book Festival last year. Being a cheapskate, I dallied until the paperback came out.
Politically, I am slightly to the left of the author, but have noted since the Coalition Government of 1 years standing, she has been one of the few to engage critically and in cases oppose the policies that were / are being enacted.
I remember first hearing of her around the formation of the SDP. I also remember hearing the term 'Gang of Four' and not realising until many years later, where it was borrowed from.
I was also aware of her being Vera Brittain's daughter, though not actually having read ' A Testament of Youth'. Perhaps worthy of reconsideration.
She considers herself to be on the moderate democratic left, a label also claimed by Blair, who, in my view, isn't. The book documents her struggles with the far left of the Labour party and how that led to the creation of the SDP. Now, in the Liberal Democrats, she is definitely on the left of that party and generally referred to as such in the political media and maybe even perceived by some in the ranks as one of the 'troublemakers'.
Certainly there is a huge amount of ground of cover. I personally did not mind that there was not so much personal information at the outset regarding her family. What was there, was included to give a sense of where she came from, and how the journey started for her politically. Did she see her politics as different from her mother? She never says and in line with another review, I think this is an unfortunate omission.
The sense of privilege came through - should she have been more humble about that? The plethora of to be famous and well connected people that she cam into contact from childhood onwards, cannot have done her any harm, in the early days of her political career. Being a woman with talent and motivation, was never going to be enough. I don't necessarily criticise her for it, for think it might have been alluded to more more.
But yes, certainly worth reading, despite these two quibbles. I finished reading it at 5. 30 this morning. No regrets and no time wasted.
Make your own mind up but definitely give it a go.
Politically, I am slightly to the left of the author, but have noted since the Coalition Government of 1 years standing, she has been one of the few to engage critically and in cases oppose the policies that were / are being enacted.
I remember first hearing of her around the formation of the SDP. I also remember hearing the term 'Gang of Four' and not realising until many years later, where it was borrowed from.
I was also aware of her being Vera Brittain's daughter, though not actually having read ' A Testament of Youth'. Perhaps worthy of reconsideration.
She considers herself to be on the moderate democratic left, a label also claimed by Blair, who, in my view, isn't. The book documents her struggles with the far left of the Labour party and how that led to the creation of the SDP. Now, in the Liberal Democrats, she is definitely on the left of that party and generally referred to as such in the political media and maybe even perceived by some in the ranks as one of the 'troublemakers'.
Certainly there is a huge amount of ground of cover. I personally did not mind that there was not so much personal information at the outset regarding her family. What was there, was included to give a sense of where she came from, and how the journey started for her politically. Did she see her politics as different from her mother? She never says and in line with another review, I think this is an unfortunate omission.
The sense of privilege came through - should she have been more humble about that? The plethora of to be famous and well connected people that she cam into contact from childhood onwards, cannot have done her any harm, in the early days of her political career. Being a woman with talent and motivation, was never going to be enough. I don't necessarily criticise her for it, for think it might have been alluded to more more.
But yes, certainly worth reading, despite these two quibbles. I finished reading it at 5. 30 this morning. No regrets and no time wasted.
Make your own mind up but definitely give it a go.
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By C. Simons
Format:Hardcover
I am half way through this rather weighty book and loving every minute of it. Finding it difficult to put down. I suspect this may be because I am of a similar age to Shirley Williams (a little younger) and her writing brings back many memories, especially of her younger years. People she speaks about re-surface in my memory. Shirley Williams writes so well - her memory is amazing. She is a great favourite of mine anyway, so maybe I am a little biased!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
What a life- fascinating!
This woman has lead a most interesting life., from childhood she mixed with a wide variety of famous and well educated people. who stimulated her lively enquiring mind.
Published 12 days ago by anne elizabeth hackett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good read by any standards
Reading this book makes me see two things very clearly: First, Shirley Williams could hardly fail to be a successful politician given her background and inclination: Second, had... Read more
Published 17 days ago by brian r
3.0 out of 5 stars
A political biography
A lot of political insider information in this autobiography. Some more interesting than other to a non-political reader.
Have to admit to skipping some paragraphs!
Have to admit to skipping some paragraphs!
Published 3 months ago by Gillian Warner
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating
I've always admired Dame Shirley and this book enlightened me as to where she has got her breadth of experience and good sense.
Published 5 months ago by Mrs Caroline White
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended
Excellent read. Very entertaining and an endearing autobiography. The combination of her personal and political narration made it better than heavy handed biographies I have read. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Anju
4.0 out of 5 stars
I should have been an MP
I find Shirley Williams most interesting. Some chapters are a little too detail and tend to be a little boring. But, on the whole, a pleasure to read.
Published 11 months ago by S. G. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
fascinating biography
I think this is an excellent biography, written in a very readable style.
I am a great admirer of Vera Brittain so it was interesting to see her through her daughter's... Read more
I am a great admirer of Vera Brittain so it was interesting to see her through her daughter's... Read more
Published on 20 May 2011 by cbcaerleon
1.0 out of 5 stars
Too much!
I really wanted to buy this for my kindle, but I'm not prepared to pay more than the hardback price!
Published on 18 Feb 2011 by Mrs. J. Hughes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wrong-headed but decent
I happen to believe that Shirley Williams has been wrong about very many things and that her performance as a member of the 1974-1979 Labour government was disastrous. Read more
Published on 20 Oct 2010 by K. Mahoney
3.0 out of 5 stars
A long life in politics
Now in her 80s, a British politician looks back over her long political career.
Shirley Williams is perhaps most famous for being one of the Gang of Four, a group of MPs... Read more
Shirley Williams is perhaps most famous for being one of the Gang of Four, a group of MPs... Read more
Published on 9 July 2010 by elkiedee
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