- Hardcover: 432 pages
- Publisher: Virago Press Ltd (24 Sep 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1844084760
- ISBN-13: 978-1844084760
- Product Dimensions: 16.7 x 24.1 x 4.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
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- #26 in Books > History > Britain & Ireland > British Heads of State > William the Conqueror
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
'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.
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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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
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
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
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 12 months ago by cbcaerleon
Too much!
I really wanted to buy this for my kindle, but I'm not prepared to pay more than the hardback price!
Published 15 months ago by Mrs. J. Hughes
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 19 months ago by K. Mahoney
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 22 months ago by elkiedee
Excellent, thoughtful and fascinating autobiography
This is an excellent and readable work, which describes an interesting life with frankness and honesty.
Published on 20 Jan 2010 by L. H. Smith
A woman dedicated to democratic socialism
Shirley Williams tells the story of her life: the influence of her progressive parents, George Catlin and Vera Brittain, who allowed her an unusual amount of freedom as a child;... Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2009 by Ralph Blumenau
This is not a mountaineering book!
For some reason Amazon have classed this politician's book as 'mountaineering biography'. Much as I enjoy a good metaphor this ain't mountaineering. Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2009 by Deep Reader
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