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The Greatest British Prime Ministers: Gladstone, Lloyd George, Attlee and Thatcher
 
 

The Greatest British Prime Ministers: Gladstone, Lloyd George, Attlee and Thatcher [Kindle Edition]

George Chamier
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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Product Description

Product Description

Who is the greatest British Prime Minister? Polls regularly hand the prize to Winston Churchill. But if you put his claim to one side on account of the exceptional circumstances of World War Two, who should claim the title?

In this provocative, fascinating essay, historian George Chamier assess the rival claims of four great Prime Ministers. William Gladstone, the 'Grand Old Man' of the Victorian age - four times Prime Minister, an MP for an astonishing 63 years and unique as a politician in that his ideas became more radical as he grew older. David Lloyd George, the 'Welsh Wizard' and the 'Man who Won the [First] War' - a fiery orator and a fighter for social justice whose dynamic leadership was accompanied by an often scandalous private life. Clement Attlee, the unassuming socialist who held together the talented but difficult individuals in Labour's first majority government and created the modern Welfare State. Finally, Margaret Thatcher, the first woman Prime Minister and the longest serving of the 20th century, the 'Iron Lady' whose policies shook up every institution in the country and who dedicated herself to putting the Great back into Britain.

All four changed the political weather of their own day and left a rich legacy behind them. This short book makes a case for each as the greatest, looking at their personal style, their political skills, their policies and their impact on the country, before coming to a conclusion about who was the greatest of them all.

George Chamier was formerly Head of History at Bradfield College and now works as a tutor, editor and examiner. His publications include 'When it Happened in Britain' and 'When it Happened in Scotland'.

Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 197 KB
  • Print Length: 82 pages
  • Publisher: Endeavour Press Ltd. (28 April 2012)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B007Z4A9Y6
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #18,020 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Enthused but unbiased 5 May 2012
By Gareth
Format:Kindle Edition
Chamier offers an extremely informative and oddly entertaining book with great structure, argument and narrative. The anecdotes about each candidate for Britain's Greatest Prime Minister make the book enjoyable, while the balanced argument and unbiased tone make the book informative and reliable. Throughout the book, I had no way of telling Chamier's personal political alliance which gave the book a fresh outlook on politics. Too often are our narratives muddied by our own agendas, but Chamier has successfully side stepped this obstacle with this book.

Chamier offered a great case for all four candidates to be given the title of Britain's Greatest Prime Minister, convincing me each time that Gladstone was the greatest...no Attlee...no Lloyd George! And so on...

Chamier's conclusion however is clear and measured, offering the reader sound reasons why he picked who he picked as the greatest. And I have to say, after reading this book, I agree with him.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Idea That's Well Executed 4 May 2012
Format:Kindle Edition
When faced with the question - who was our greatest Prime Minister? The answer, more often than not, will be Winston Churchill. However, if you exclude the war-time PM from the equation, the question becomes far more thought-provoking. George Chamier's short but detailed essay provides us with four alternative candidates: William Gladstone, David Lloyd George, Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher. Each Prime Minister is examined through their policies, and the impact they left on the country. Alongside their merits, he also highlights their failings - for example, he observes that both Thatcher and Lloyd George were seen to be somewhat untrustworthy - and for Lloyd George this also extended into his private life. Chamier also argues that they damaged their own parties; Lloyd George for splitting the Liberals and Thatcher for leaving a 'poisoned legacy' for Conservative Prime Ministers to come. Gladstone is fascinating, 'The Grand Old Man' held the position of Prime Minister a staggering four times, and through his remarkable career his ideas became far more radical. Chamier's examination of Attlee, (the Prime Minister I was least familiar with) was remarkable, as before he fairly debates his policies and actions, yet you can feel Chamier's admiration for him, specifically when describing the creation of the Welfare State. This book is wonderful, offering a fresh perspective on a widely reviewed subject, it is brimming with insightful discussion, gem-like facts and healthy debate.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth voting for... 6 May 2012
By Natalie
Format:Kindle Edition
Greatest British Prime Ministers really is an excellent read. One of Endeavour Press's best books yet, it explores the personal and professional lives of four eminent British Premiers: Gladstone, Lloyd-George, Attlee and Thatcher. Whilst the introduction is engaging and important in understanding Chamier's criteria for selecting the Greatest British Prime Minister, it is in the main body of the book that the reader becomes truly engaged. Beautifully written, the author transforms a sophisticated, academic essay into a compelling and accessible page-turner.
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