A History of Modern Britain [Paperback]

"'Superb, colourful, outspoken, fresh and richly entertaining. Don't miss' The Times 'Lively, full of rich anecdotes and sparkling pen portraits. He has the rare gift of being able to explain complex issues in a few crisp sentences' Sunday Telegraph"

'He has the rare gift of being able to explain complex issues in a
few crisp sentences.' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

'This is a fine example of popular history...engaging and
intelligent.' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

"Marr is the ideal history teacher that most people never had
at school." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

'This is a fantastic read that manages to be both authoritative and accessible'
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

'Well informed, entertaining and dryly amusing'
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

The Sunday Times No.1 Bestseller - an authoritative, accessible history from one of our most respected journalists

A History of Modern Britain confronts head-on the victory of shopping over politics. It tells the story of how the great political visions of New Jerusalem or a second Elizabethan Age, rival idealisms, came to be defeated by a culture of consumerism, celebrity and self-gratification. In each decade, political leaders think they know what they are doing, but find themselves confounded. Every time, the British people turn out to be stroppier and harder to herd than predicted. Throughout, Britain is a country on the edge – first of invasion, then of bankruptcy, then on the vulnerable front line of the Cold War and later in the forefront of the great opening up of capital and migration now reshaping the world. This history follows all the political and economic stories, but deals too with comedy, cars, the war against homosexuals, Sixties anarchists, oil-men and punks, Margaret Thatcher’s wonderful good luck, political lies and the true heroes of British theatre. ‘Superb, colourful, outspoken, fresh and richly entertaining. Don’t miss’ The Times ‘Lively, full of rich anecdotes and sparkling pen portraits. He has the rare gift of being able to explain complex issues in a few crisp sentences’ Sunday Telegraph

Andrew Marr was born in Glasgow. He has enjoyed a long career in political journalism, including five years as the BBC's Political Editor (2000-05). Andrew's broadcasting includes BBC2's History of Modern Britain series, political documentaries for Channel 4 and BBC Panorama, and Radio 4's 'Start The Week'.