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A History of Modern Britain (Hardcover)

by Andrew Marr (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 629 pages
  • Publisher: Macmillan; illustrated edition edition (17 May 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1405005386
  • ISBN-13: 978-1405005388
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.8 x 5.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 33,824 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #31 in  Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Government & Politics > Countries & Regions > Europe

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Product Description

Review

As in the days when he was the BBC's chief political editor, it is the clarity of his judgements, the arresting insights and the irrepressible wit that keep us hanging on to his words. Among his other qualities, Marr is the ideal history teacher that most people never had at school . . . It is a measure of Marr's professionalism that his judgements inspire the kind of trust which Tony Blair and his allies squandered through spin and outright lies. --.

This book certainly goes for impact . . . Skipping and dipping through these six hundred-odd pages is great fun, perhaps even (I give a quote for the eventual paperback's blurb) a damned good read . . . This book will be read with pleasure, for Marr's ironic tone and ever -present pleasant presence. --Bernard Crick, Edinburgh Review


Sunday Telegraph

'He has the rare gift of being able to explain complex issues in a
few crisp sentences.'
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Customer Reviews

53 Reviews
5 star:
 (23)
4 star:
 (16)
3 star:
 (7)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (5)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (53 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars I think the word 'Political' is missing from the title, 31 Mar 2008
By Rob Sawyer (Hampshire UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I originally bought this book after hearing about the TV programme and reading the reviews on here and also because I thought it would be a good education for me.

As I neared the end of the book I re-read the reviews here and was somewhat surprised to see some 1 and 2 star reviews, although on reading them I did agree with some of their content.

Overall the book as far as what I hoped to get out of it was 5 stars. Very readable and a great review of politics from 1945 until 2006.

However I do have some comments about it. I didn't quite understand the infrequent dips into non-political issues e.g. fashion in the 1960s. Although I can understand that this was an important backdrop to the political situation (more liberal rules etc) the 'dipping' was a little inconsistent, almost as if either Andrew Marr or the publisher had said 'Nice book can you do a few non-political bits please?'. I did enjoy the 'dips' but wonder whether the book would be better without them, or with more of them? On balance they could probably have been worked in within the theme of the politics hence my title for my review - the book shoudl be A Political History of Modern Britain.

I was also a bit disappointed that more detail was not given to decimalisation (a couple of lines) which as an 11 year old I remember very clearly - surely that was a political hot potato worthy of more discussion?

As for the reviewer who complained it was like A-level History, well I didn't do that and for me the depth of the writing was enough, but I accept that perhaps the book is very superficial, though I have to say highly enjoyable.

These comments would not have made me drop a star in my rating, but the appalling typos I am afraid do, so 4 not 5.

Well worth reading though despite my tiny reservations.













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239 of 261 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Solid, popularist history, 26 May 2007
By R. B. Moore "rmoore322" (Leeds, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This is easy to read, general history for the average person in the street like me who has a broad interest in the life of the country but who hasn't got the background to read the "proper" histories. I love this because I can dip in and out, or I can read it in linear chunks. I love the style which is chatty and friendly. And the period interests me because it is really before I was around, so I see the echoes of it but never experienced these things for myself. A lot changed in Britain post war, and I didn't really appreciated how much until I read this.

I can't really comment on the absolute accuracy, and I'm sure it isn't definitive, but it is approachable. It's like a Bryson book of science rather than a Hawking, but with history.

It's quite bit and heavy in hardbook though, but if that is my principle complaint then take this as an unqualified recommendation!
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42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Reasonable 'journalistic' overview, but how many typos!?!, 9 Jul 2008
By Readerbloke (London UK) - See all my reviews
This is an enjoyable, easy-to-read overview of postwar Britain but Marr does seem to get away with some shockingly wooly points that would have caused my history teacher's red pen to run out of ink!

The first chapters, about Britain's politics immediately after WW2 up to the 60s I thought were excellent, but as soon as he gets into economics, pop music etc it does become pretty sloppy tabloid generalisation. As a typical upper-middle class BBC journo and well-known chum of Gordon Brown he's also painfully PC, especially jarring in a history book, re. the unqualified good of multiculturalism, the NHS and welfare state, the liberal reforms of the 60s onwards etc. There's also a very sniffy attitude to the developments of business, the UK economy and consumerism.

Also it would be really useful in a future edition to occasionally include in the margins what year he's talking about. In an overview, thematic history it's very hard to follow exactly when specific things are happening, and Marr rarely gives any dates in his text.

Then there's the typos - I'm not that much of a pedant but I was seeing a glaring one every few pages! In a history book from a respected BBC journo this is really poor, and does make you wonder if some of the facts and quotes are in fact accurate, given that there was so little scrutiny in the editing process.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, entertaining read - but is there political bias?
I enjoyed this book, in the main. Marr's style is usually both entertaining and informative, and the breadth and scope of the book are impressive. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Astute Observer

1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid it
As Charles Moore has said in his Daily Telegraph review: History is surely an unprejudiced inquiry into past times. Andrew Marr treats it as a court martial. Read more
Published 16 days ago by patrea

1.0 out of 5 stars Shallow and Ill Informed
As a political journalist I assumed that this book would be shallow, written in the moment.
How wrong could I be. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. P. Brown

3.0 out of 5 stars Having to make up my own history
Was loaned this book by a friend. Can't say Marr's writing style is to my taste, but more importantly in the copy I have over 60 pages are repeated and more than 50 pages are... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Zoe Urwin

3.0 out of 5 stars Didn't like the "style"
Though I did find the book interesting, I am not convinced by Marr's "style" of writing - not sure why, but I found it detracted from what would otherwise been an excellent read... Read more
Published 2 months ago by N. Beswick

3.0 out of 5 stars Top quality on politics, not so hot on the social side
Just a short review: Andrew Marr is very certain of himself and very convincing on the political side of British history since the war, local and global, but I can't take him too... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Tyrone Shoelaces

1.0 out of 5 stars worst book ever
this book is all about politics ntohing more nothing less its not what i wanted from a book dont buy this book
Published 3 months ago by Aj Porter

5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive and thought-provoking history
Having just finished this book after 3 days during which I did little else but read, I can confidently recommend it to anyone wanting to flesh out their knowledge of post-war... Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. Cardwell

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Read
An astonishing accomplishment and an intriguing read. Andrew Marr is a political journalist with a respected career. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Steven Stewart

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid history reads like a novel
OK, in 600 pages you're not going to get the full comprehensive history of post-war Britain. What you do get is a page-turner that keeps you interested, informed and entertained... Read more
Published 3 months ago by GeeJayBee

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