The Age of Decadence: A History of Britain: 1880-1914
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- Author：Simon Heffer
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Summary
A richly detailed history of Britain at its imperial zenith， revealing the simmering tensions and explosive rivalries beneath the opulent surface of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras。
The popular memory of Britain in the years before the Great War is of a powerful， contented， orderly， and thriving country。 Britain commanded a vast empire: she bestrode international commerce。 Her citizens were living longer， profiting from civil liberties their grandparents only dreamed of and enjoying an expanding range of comforts and pastimes。 The mood of pride and self-confidence can be seen in Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance marches， newsreels of George V’s coronation， and London’s great Edwardian palaces。
Yet beneath the surface things were very different In The Age of Decadence， Simon Heffer exposes the contradictions of late-Victorian and Edwardian Britain。 He explains how， despite the nation’s massive power， a mismanaged war against the Boers in South Africa created profound doubts about her imperial destiny。 He shows how attempts to secure vital social reforms prompted the twentieth century’s gravest constitutional crisis—and coincided with the worst industrial unrest in British history。 He describes how politicians who conceded the vote to millions more men disregarded women so utterly that female suffragists’ public protest bordered on terrorism。 He depicts a ruling class that fell prey to degeneracy and scandal。 He analyses a national psyche that embraced the motor-car， the sensationalist press， and the science fiction of H。 G。 Wells， but also the nostalgia of A。 E。 Housman。
The popular memory of Britain in the years before the Great War is of a powerful， contented， orderly， and thriving country。 Britain commanded a vast empire: she bestrode international commerce。 Her citizens were living longer， profiting from civil liberties their grandparents only dreamed of and enjoying an expanding range of comforts and pastimes。 The mood of pride and self-confidence can be seen in Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance marches， newsreels of George V’s coronation， and London’s great Edwardian palaces。
Yet beneath the surface things were very different In The Age of Decadence， Simon Heffer exposes the contradictions of late-Victorian and Edwardian Britain。 He explains how， despite the nation’s massive power， a mismanaged war against the Boers in South Africa created profound doubts about her imperial destiny。 He shows how attempts to secure vital social reforms prompted the twentieth century’s gravest constitutional crisis—and coincided with the worst industrial unrest in British history。 He describes how politicians who conceded the vote to millions more men disregarded women so utterly that female suffragists’ public protest bordered on terrorism。 He depicts a ruling class that fell prey to degeneracy and scandal。 He analyses a national psyche that embraced the motor-car， the sensationalist press， and the science fiction of H。 G。 Wells， but also the nostalgia of A。 E。 Housman。
Reviews
Robert Davidson
，
Decay of an EmpireA competent scholarly treatise detailing the cause and effect of the burgeoning cultural strengths of the working class and the opposing waning power of the hithertofore ruling classes。 The advent of the suffragette， the coming of age of the unions， the birth of the Labour party and virtual demise of the Liberals together with the implementation of pensions and sickness benefits for the nation are dissected and explained in eminently readable prose。
Rachel
，
The Age of Decadence by Simon Heffer is the definitive nonfiction that delves deeply into every aspect of Britain’s history from 1880-1914。 This gem covers everything anyone would ever want to know about the late-Victorian and Edwardian eras of Great Britain that occurred before WWI ushered in so many changes and created a new path and era for GB。 This book is just stunning。 The amount of research that was needed to create this masterpiece is just beyond impressive。 The author covers every aspec The Age of Decadence by Simon Heffer is the definitive nonfiction that delves deeply into every aspect of Britain’s history from 1880-1914。 This gem covers everything anyone would ever want to know about the late-Victorian and Edwardian eras of Great Britain that occurred before WWI ushered in so many changes and created a new path and era for GB。 This book is just stunning。 The amount of research that was needed to create this masterpiece is just beyond impressive。 The author covers every aspect: politics， history， culture， art， society， instabilities， who’s who of importance amongst many other avenues。 My personal favorite is the chapter regarding Women’s Suffrage。 I have already researched a great deal on this subject， and I felt the author did an excellent job summing up the facts。 This exhaustingly researched book is a true work of art that demands ones’s attention and is most enjoyed as a slow， steady read so that all the wonderful facts that are presented can truly be absorbed and appreciated。 Very impressive。 For anyone interested in history， pre-WWI history， and the history of Britain。 5/5 stars Thank you EW and Pegasus Books for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion。 I am posting this review to my GR， Instagram， and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon， Instagram， and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/6/21。 。。。more
Alex
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 A highly interesting history of Britian in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries。 The book covers many different aspects of life in late Victorian and Edwardian Britian， including education， politics， Irish Home Rule， the fight for votes for women and many others。It also touches upon the cultural impact of the era in terms of the development of music， literature and art。 Exploration and the development of empire are also covered widely。Heffer has a masterly touch with words and in pl A highly interesting history of Britian in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries。 The book covers many different aspects of life in late Victorian and Edwardian Britian， including education， politics， Irish Home Rule， the fight for votes for women and many others。It also touches upon the cultural impact of the era in terms of the development of music， literature and art。 Exploration and the development of empire are also covered widely。Heffer has a masterly touch with words and in places it felt as if I were reading a novel rather than a non fiction book。 I throughly enjoyed this book， and would read it again in the future。 。。。more
Poppy99
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Phew， a tour de force， that took me a long time to read。 So packed full of detail and research。 I found some of the political discussions quite dry but essential to the recording of history。
Bryan Alkire
，
Good history。 Its only real fault is that it’s really long。 But， the investment of time to read is mostly worth it。 I particularly enjoyed the chapters on the English culture of the period， the writers， theater， music hall and painting of the period。 I learned more about those areas than I did the politics sections。 I’ve read enough elsewhere to have a basic grasp of the political events of the age。 What was new to me was learning more about the details of say， the 1909-11 crisis relating to the Good history。 Its only real fault is that it’s really long。 But， the investment of time to read is mostly worth it。 I particularly enjoyed the chapters on the English culture of the period， the writers， theater， music hall and painting of the period。 I learned more about those areas than I did the politics sections。 I’ve read enough elsewhere to have a basic grasp of the political events of the age。 What was new to me was learning more about the details of say， the 1909-11 crisis relating to the House of Lords or the women’s suffrage movement generally。 The writing is mostly readable although the later chapters can be a bit repetitive as the topics refer back to earlier more general sections of the book。 But， the chapters and sections make it relatively easy to browse and skim without losing the thread。 All in all， this is by far the definitive history of England from 1880-1914 for the next generation or so。 Worth reading if you’ve the interest and time。 。。。more
Stephen King
，
This is fascinating but far too long。 There are great chapters on the suffragette movement， on the rise of the trade unions and some intriguing insights into the ways in which a deferential Victorian society gave way to the more liberal Edwardian and post war age。 It’s marred however by long tedious accounts of parliamentary battles on Home Rule and the wider suffrage movement。 As a social history， purely， it would have been great。
Geevee
，
Simon Heffer has written a sweeping and hugely enjoyable book about an era that is often described and suggested as content， peaceful and disciplined， but in actuality was one of political foment and social change。The structure of the book is at a top level chronological but split into four parts: The World of the Late Victorians; Coming Storms; Public Debates， Public Doubts and Strife。 The prologue， Swagger， starts the book off with a encapsulation of what it meant to be British and how the Emp Simon Heffer has written a sweeping and hugely enjoyable book about an era that is often described and suggested as content， peaceful and disciplined， but in actuality was one of political foment and social change。The structure of the book is at a top level chronological but split into four parts: The World of the Late Victorians; Coming Storms; Public Debates， Public Doubts and Strife。 The prologue， Swagger， starts the book off with a encapsulation of what it meant to be British and how the Empire celebrated Queen Victoria's Diamond and Golden jubilees。 There is also signposting of subjects， people and events that lie deeper within the book。Once into Part I， the heavyweights of the 1880s， Gladstone， Salisbury， Joseph Chamberlain， John Bright and even Lord Alfred Tennyson feature in the opening chapter。 Mr Heffer discusses franchise for rural men and boundary changes as we see Conservatives， Liberals and the radical faction of the Liberals all fence and press for legislation。 Gladstone is elderly， but certainly no pushover or easy ride for Joseph the radical either。Pushing along at a pace， but with verve and clarity， Mr Heffer covers taxation， and farming: struggling with falling prices and tenant farmers are unable to compete with cheap imports of grain， meats and even refrigerated goods by ship。 Elsewhere the scandal of affairs and homosexuality sees the Royals dragged by implication （former） and association （latter） into divorce and immorality case。 There is welcome detail about education， sport， music for the lower classes and much more。 Industrial unrest - an ever present in British history， especially from the 1820s to 1980s， the birth of the Labour party and pensions and early welfare are covered in the Workers Struggle， the final chapter in Part 1。 Wider afield as we move in to Part II （Coming Storms） imperial tensions are highlighted by the Government's abandonment of， and leading to the death of， General Gordon brought Gladstone Queen Victoria and the public's ire， and stained his record （not that it mattered with Victoria who detested him）。 The procedures and traditions of Parliament looms large as Charles Bradlaugh， elected MP for Northampton in 1880， refuses to take the religious Oath of Allegiance。 He challenges tradition by stating he will attest to an oath but not a religious one。 This is denied and ructions， ejections and much consternation follows。 However， Bradlaugh， with the support of his constituency， who elected him 4 times， successfully sees Parliament change its rules in 1880。 An ever-present in this book is the Victorians'， willingness to improve people。 Abroad linked to trade and education and empire's expansion， and at home， especially Mr Heffer covers in great detail poverty， crime， mortality， employment and the difficulties unemployment， illness and sickness created。 There are many Acts of Parliament to improve conditions as we see the changes in society and transport that lead to better education， literacy， and the creation of the Suburbs。Improving health as a theme is maintained and we see the formation of county councils， further education acts & milder discipline in schools by Salisbury's Tory Govt （c1890）。 Also discussed is Borstal & how central & local government took a wider role in welfare。 Protecting women and Infanticide are covered: Amelia Dyer， who is believed to have killed 400 babies is one case。 Child prostitution， domestic white slavery （a late Victorian term I was surprised to learn）， eugenics feature， as does H。G Wells' views of the future。。。and an over strong Germany focuses minds on foreign policy， capital expenditure， taxation and military capability。Arts， literature， newspapers also have significant coverage with their ownership & adaptation to events & society， including the impact of near full literacy。 Press barons such as Northcliffe and his influence on and with newspapers shows how messaging and political views are promulgated。 Allied to this are libel and censorship with cases brought and won or lost。 This latter， especially the censorship of the theatre is eye-opening and quite amusing where we see the laughable method， approach & absence of knowledge of the Censor， G A Redford in action。 I was surprised the British Board of Film Classification started in 1912。 Its primary aim being H&S as the film and limelight was so hazardous。Women's suffrage and "Votes for Women" are ably covered as we span the books time period and meet some of the main characters and points in time。 The violence and growth in attacks on property and indeed people grew causing real societal concern。 There is a lot of detail here that for was new， and I have read on this subject。 Likewise， the sheer amount of industrial unrest， and violence， as miners， transport workers， dockers， tram， shipping and waterways workers all strike， as do factories - many locked out in England， Wales， Scotland and Ireland， as riots and protests seek better conditions and pay。 Starvation breaks many strikes but slowly conditions improve and change including the first steps towards a welfare state that was created in 1947。 Pensions and unemployment insurance are born， and interesting to learn this is where Beveridge， the central lead for the 1947 creation served his apprenticeship。 The rise of unions and Labour also span this period too。Ireland is ever-present in the book。 A whole chapter in dedicated to it in Part 2， Coming Storms， and again later as Home Rule， industrial strife， political disagreements and manoeuvring continues。 Arming the population （both sides）， the question of Ulster and its counties is central as we approach the key debates and events on 1912 to 1914 with the Home Rule act。。。but then in July a assassination creates a shockwave that will see men from Ulster and their adversaries from the rest of Ireland join up and spill huge amounts of blood in Britain's name。There is too much in this book to cover everything here。 That said this review I hope gives a flavour of the spread， detail and sheer pleasure this book has given me。 Mr Heffer has been able to show in clear entertaining prose how the Age of Decadence happened。Decadence: 1。 Moral or cultural decline as characterized by excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury。 1。1 Luxurious self-indulgence。 。 Source: OED。 。。。more
Christopher Bounds
，
This book could with equal justice be called both a tome and a joy to read。 The occasional tongue in cheek comments from the right-wing brain never distract from the overall balance in the argument and a strong sense of what was really happening in that vital twenty years before the Great War。 I’ve found another historian whose works I’ll seek out in the future; and a renewed understanding of an era I’ve often mischaracterised， with others， as a idyllic afternoon between the HIgh Victorian era a This book could with equal justice be called both a tome and a joy to read。 The occasional tongue in cheek comments from the right-wing brain never distract from the overall balance in the argument and a strong sense of what was really happening in that vital twenty years before the Great War。 I’ve found another historian whose works I’ll seek out in the future; and a renewed understanding of an era I’ve often mischaracterised， with others， as a idyllic afternoon between the HIgh Victorian era and the war。 Full marks， indeed。 。。。more
Alan Goswell
，
Don't tackle this marathon unless you are a real enthusiast。 This is not for those who like any pace in a book。 The author examines each of the subject matters in forensic detail and then some more。 I completed it because I did not want to be beaten， but would never read this author again。 Don't tackle this marathon unless you are a real enthusiast。 This is not for those who like any pace in a book。 The author examines each of the subject matters in forensic detail and then some more。 I completed it because I did not want to be beaten， but would never read this author again。 。。。more
JW
，
This book may remind some of George Dangerfield’s The Strange Death of Liberal England。 Both cover similar territory， but Heffer’s book is much more extensive。 The last section covers the well-known territory of Lords versus Liberals， suffragettes and strikers， with intransigent Ulster providing the finale。 Before then， the author shows the beginnings of the welfare state。 The working and results of expanded education and increased literacy are well covered， as is the increase in women’s rights。 This book may remind some of George Dangerfield’s The Strange Death of Liberal England。 Both cover similar territory， but Heffer’s book is much more extensive。 The last section covers the well-known territory of Lords versus Liberals， suffragettes and strikers， with intransigent Ulster providing the finale。 Before then， the author shows the beginnings of the welfare state。 The working and results of expanded education and increased literacy are well covered， as is the increase in women’s rights。 Britain was becoming more democratic， which either meant the people were having more say in their government， or the governing class had to use better means of manipulating the public （cue Lord Northcliffe and the other press barons）。Many were troubled by the country’s initial poor results in the Boer War and the relatively large number of recruits found unfit for service。 Nostalgia was in the air， but was the country really decadent？ If swagger really was a spirit of the age， wouldn’t the people of that time felt it to be justified？ We now know the empire was on the edge of a precipice （along with the rest of Europe）， but what if Franz Ferdinand’s driver had not made that wrong turn in Sarajevo？ 。。。more
Sue Foster
，
Interesting social history pA very well。write social history。 It touches on aspects of life。 From the Boys Own Magazines to theatre and early film and votes for women to the impact of the First World War which changed lift。 Excellent。
Shan Wilkinson
，
Learnt such a lot from this book！ Chunky read。
Studvet
，
An extremely well - done book that gives great insight and detail of those times: not the "good old days" at all。 It is shocking to see how workers， women and different ethnicities were treated little better than animals。 Times have so changed！ It's a bit dry and repetitive at times， thru no fault of the author， but has great authority and command of facts and of the attitudes of the time as the story is told。 Some great stories but surely one of the greatest figures of all time is Emmeline Pank An extremely well - done book that gives great insight and detail of those times: not the "good old days" at all。 It is shocking to see how workers， women and different ethnicities were treated little better than animals。 Times have so changed！ It's a bit dry and repetitive at times， thru no fault of the author， but has great authority and command of facts and of the attitudes of the time as the story is told。 Some great stories but surely one of the greatest figures of all time is Emmeline Pankhurst for the wonderful struggle she and her family， and others， did against a powerful， repressive government and a totally male - dominated society。 Women have so much to thank her for， as do society in general， and she and her fellow fighters struggles are Olympian in their courage and sacrifices。 She is up there with the Churchill of the war years。 。。。more
Mary
，
Finally finished， this one of the most detailed history books I've read covering every aspect of British life during that period。 Really interesting and engaging。 I found the sections on politics hard going， complicated with too much detail （the detail I loved in every other section）。 A list of political personages and their affiliations would have been useful as it got quite boring and I just lost the thread。 Finally finished， this one of the most detailed history books I've read covering every aspect of British life during that period。 Really interesting and engaging。 I found the sections on politics hard going， complicated with too much detail （the detail I loved in every other section）。 A list of political personages and their affiliations would have been useful as it got quite boring and I just lost the thread。 。。。more
David Bisset
，
A fascinating chronicleDo we really understand any historical period？ The author deals with the era prior to the Great War in considerable depth。 He produces a series of unexpected facts， and provides readable biographies of some of the Great personages of the time in Britain。 The catastrophe of the coming conflict undoubtedly made people describe it as a Golden Age， but of course it was far from being perfect。 I think that the "decadence" in the title is an exaggeration， for what age can ever b A fascinating chronicleDo we really understand any historical period？ The author deals with the era prior to the Great War in considerable depth。 He produces a series of unexpected facts， and provides readable biographies of some of the Great personages of the time in Britain。 The catastrophe of the coming conflict undoubtedly made people describe it as a Golden Age， but of course it was far from being perfect。 I think that the "decadence" in the title is an exaggeration， for what age can ever be described in a single word？ 。。。more
Rev AJBawtree
，
History it seems might indicate that another Prime Minister gets broken on the wheel of Ulster。An insightful and well researched book， written in an engaging style as to be expected by Simon Heffer。 Decadence indeed but not confined to one hundred years ago。
Alistair
，
At nearly 900 pages including index ， notes and bibliography this is a real door stop of a book and took me ages to read 。 I can't imagine how the writer managed to martial all the strands that he deals with such as the decline of Victorian certainties ， the change in a woman's role particularly the fight for the vote ， the rise of worker's unions ， Ireland which I don't understand ， the death of God ， education for all ， the development of a middle class ， Empire etc 。 。 The title is deceptive At nearly 900 pages including index ， notes and bibliography this is a real door stop of a book and took me ages to read 。 I can't imagine how the writer managed to martial all the strands that he deals with such as the decline of Victorian certainties ， the change in a woman's role particularly the fight for the vote ， the rise of worker's unions ， Ireland which I don't understand ， the death of God ， education for all ， the development of a middle class ， Empire etc 。 。 The title is deceptive 。 Obviously in trying to question the popular belief that the Edwardian era was all about sunlit garden parties and the grandeur of Empire ， Simon Heffer or his publisher picked a title that suggests terrible moral turpitude 。 What in fact it means is that all was not plain sailing and it was a time of change and struggle 。 I enjoyed plowing through it with the reservation that there is too much detail about parliamentary in fighting and various bills such as those relating to Free Trade ， Death Duties and the right to strike which were obviously important at the time but left me totally confused 。 I had no idea who was who amongst the Asquiths ， Churchills and Lloyd Georges and other sundry politicians 。 I preferred the chapters on nostalgia ， Empire and the Rise of the Pooters 。Very good but not for the fainthearted 。 。。。more
Jeremy
，
I love a big history book that you can really sink your teeth into， and Heffer delivers in spades。 He goes into incredible detail about this period， and while exhaustive， it is also interesting and captivating。 Well worth the effort！
Sheffielder
，
Well written and interesting， but simply too long。 Skipped the last two chapters。
mylogicisfuzzy
，
This took almost four months to read although I did put it aside for a while back in April and May。 For the most part， it is very good， immaculately researched and well argued。 However， it is also too long at times with enough detail about parliamentary debates， conversations and correspondence between certain politicians for a book of its own within this book。 And because of its thematic approach， I did occasionally get confused between Churchills and Chamberlains Sr and Jr （in the first chapte This took almost four months to read although I did put it aside for a while back in April and May。 For the most part， it is very good， immaculately researched and well argued。 However， it is also too long at times with enough detail about parliamentary debates， conversations and correspondence between certain politicians for a book of its own within this book。 And because of its thematic approach， I did occasionally get confused between Churchills and Chamberlains Sr and Jr （in the first chapter on Home Rule， Churchill Sr for example and in the later Home Rule chapter Churchill Jr and same with tariffs/ protectionism between Chamberlain father and son）。 I didn't really want to read about parliamentary debates in such detail， nevertheless it was still interesting。 Parts 2 and 3 I found particularly good and I've learned a few things overall。 For example， I don't think I'll ever be able to look at HG Wells in the same light again since learning about his pretty shocking attitude towards women。 。。。more
Mike
，
Got bogged down， could only finish 600 pages。
Duncan
，
A rehash of every other book I have read on this era。 Waste of money。
Colin
，
This is an immersive narrative history of the major events in British domestic history in the quarter century before the start of the First World War。 It is unsparing in its detail and I applaud Simon Heffer's mastery of the information and his ability to describe the events so clearly。 For a thorough narrative of events such as Irish home rule， the fight for female suffrage， "the Great Unrest" （the major labour conflicts of 1911， 1912 etc。）， this would be an excellent source。I have only two poi This is an immersive narrative history of the major events in British domestic history in the quarter century before the start of the First World War。 It is unsparing in its detail and I applaud Simon Heffer's mastery of the information and his ability to describe the events so clearly。 For a thorough narrative of events such as Irish home rule， the fight for female suffrage， "the Great Unrest" （the major labour conflicts of 1911， 1912 etc。）， this would be an excellent source。I have only two points of negative criticism such as to stop me giving this 5 stars。 First， there is at times so much detail that I did get a bit bogged down （the chapter about Bradlaugh and the oath being a particular example） and so perhaps some tightening of the narrative would have been helpful。The second point is that although Simon Heffer seeks to link these various events as a way of illustrating Britain becoming a decadent nation （a sort of reserve Whiggism）， this was not justified when describing each of the set-piece events。 Britain was undergoing major social change at the time but to characterise events as of all of piece with decadence， was not argued through in the book。 In fact， unusually for this author， the book was light on analysis for much of its 800 plus pages。That said， it is a most readable and informative account and while not as impressive as the previous volume （High Minds）， is well worth tackling and readers will find this a rewarding experience。 。。。more
Paul
，
The Age of Decadence – Excellently researched and Beautifully writtenSimon Heffer， journalist and historian reminds us of world that Britain has long looked at with various degrees of rose tinted spectacles。 One would expect， a right-wing journalist such as Heffer would offer up a polemic on lost Victorian values and a world where everyone knew their place。 Rather we are given an excellently researched， and a beautifully written， balanced account of a changing world。The prose that Heffer uses pa The Age of Decadence – Excellently researched and Beautifully writtenSimon Heffer， journalist and historian reminds us of world that Britain has long looked at with various degrees of rose tinted spectacles。 One would expect， a right-wing journalist such as Heffer would offer up a polemic on lost Victorian values and a world where everyone knew their place。 Rather we are given an excellently researched， and a beautifully written， balanced account of a changing world。The prose that Heffer uses paints some spectacular pictures for the imagination， and in the prologue in describing Victoria’s jubilee service outside of St Paul’s is an outstanding case of this。 When describing the Queen and the copes of the bishops， there is a postcard on St Paul’s website， which is the pictorial version of the picture Heffer paints。Simon Heffer rises to the challenge of a Britain of a social structure that was rotten to the core， where there was a massive gulf between the rich and everyone else。 Between 1880 and 1914， how the few squandered the wealth that previous generations built up， when 10% of the population owned over 90% of the country’s wealth。Heffer guides the reader effortlessly through the beginning of William Gladstone’s beginning of his second administration to the summer of 1914， where in Ireland was on the brink of civil war over Home Rule。 Heffer shows that Britain may have had the greatest empire the world had ever seen， the splendour of home， was nothing more an illusion。 There was social unrest， people’s voices from below， were getting louder and challenging the status quo。Where the prologue shows the pomp and circumstance that Britain is so good at that the following chapters are a juxtaposition of that。 Showing the challenges， that Britain was facing with Ireland， poverty and Votes for Women， to the rise of the Labour Party and growing union militancy， not forgetting the challenge to trade tariffs。Heffer ably describes the challenges to the aristocracy and how the 1911 Parliament Act may be seen as the beginning of their decline in public life。 How with the double standards and sex scandals that were prevalent but hidden away from the ‘other classes’。 Not forgetting that there was a homosexual brothel on Cleveland Street that operated with the full cooperation of the ruling class in 1889。 The sexual proclivities of the rich and the double standards when condemning the poor for similar。This book is packed with so much detail， shows the extent of the scholarship and research and over the 800 pages you cannot help but learn something new。 Simon Heffer has not left a stone unturned， and has discovered items in archives that help to illustrate this period， and make the book an excellent read。I cannot recommend this book highly enough。 。。。more
Bevan Lewis
，