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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A night out with...Zissman, 18 Jul 2002
It was with great interest that I began to read "A Night Out with Chamberlain". Joseph Chamberlain, placed in imaginary conversation with the author, was himself a central figure in both the history A-level course that I have just finished, and in the growth of the city of Birmingham, immediately making this novella an appealing choice. But even more, this was a book written by an author who had done much for Birmingham, Sir Bernard Zissman. With these two factors I was quickly through the introduction and into the story.Indeed once into the narrative I was not to be disappointed. The tale not only makes reference to Chamberlain's life itself, which alone would have been of enormous value to my history course. It also refers to several events around Europe at the time of Chamberlain, making it of clear interest in comparison to the many dealings of Europe and the "European Union" today (and of further use to my history!). Furthermore the author provides a fascinating scope on the politics of today, which would have been of great use to my politics A-level course (also finished - if only this book had come out six months earlier!) The style of this "story" is quite unique, often as a reader you feel very much part of the conversation that is taking place, and indeed, through the description of the surroundings you may even feel as if you are walking with the two great men partaking in the conversation. "Post historians" and "post modernists" would certainly have much to say about a conversation constructed with a historical figure by a modern author, perhaps suggesting that the conversation would be created in a manner based on the individual prejudice of that author, thus not creating a true reflection of the past. They may especially be suspicious considering that Sir Zissman was a member of the Conservative party while his subject was seen as a radical member of the then Liberal Party (as the story suggests). However, after reading the book it is obvious that this is far from the case, Sir Zissman clearly takes into account and puts forward Chamberlain's political views, and by contrasting these to his own demonstrates how much British politics has changed in the near one hundred years between these two Birmingham politicians. Indeed Sir Zissman has created a conversation that has much to say on many of the topics that still today trouble British, European and World politics, from Ireland to the Middle East to the Balkans. Yet as well as all of this, perhaps for those of you not quite as interested in Politics the book highlights the changes and developments that Birmingham has undergone in recent times and the role that Sir Zissman played in these, from "Brindley Place" to "Millennium Point". Again through comparison with the earlier era the author also demonstrates how radical these changes have actually been. (I'm not getting confused - the book explains all). Clearly the two participants of this conversation have much credit to take for the Birmingham that we have today!
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