Harold Macmillan: Aspects of a Political Life - by R Aldous & S Lee (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Even 35 years after Harold Macmillan's resignation in 1963, opinions are sharply divided over his achievements as a politician and prime minister. This volume contributes to the debate about Macmillan's political role, his successes and his failures, by examining key aspects of his political life. Biographers, historians, and contemporaries present facets of Macmillan's life, his political visions, his skills, successes and failures in his personal life as well as in his domestic and foreign policies. With most official papers covering his active political life until his resignation now in the public domain, a more considered judgement about his party political and his governmental activities is possible. Taking account of this newly-available documentary evidence, there is much yet to be written on Harold Macmillan's career, but this collection bears witness to the fact that his was a magnificent life.

Review Quotes

'Scholars of the Macmillan years will none the less find a great deal to interest them in this book. If the present view of Macmillan remains, as the editors suggest, that he was 'all style and no substance', there is much here that will serve as a corrective.' - D.J. Dutton, Contemporary British Politcs

About the Author

PIERS LUDLOW British Academy Junior Research Fellow in Modern History, Balliol College, Oxford SCOTT LUCAS Head of American and Canadian Studies, University of Birmingham SIR CURTIS KEEBLE former Ambassador to the Soviet Union JOHN SUBRITZKY Policy Officer, New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs NICK CROWSON Lecturer in Modern and Contemporary British History, University of Birmingham RICHARD LAMB Public Record Office SIR OLIVER WRIGHT former Ambassador to Copenhagen, Bonn and Washington CHARLES LYSAGHT former Barrister, Lecturer and Legal Adviser in Dublin LEWIS JOHNMAN Quintin Hogg Research Fellow in History, University of Westminster SABINE LEE Lecturer of German History, University of Birmingham DONETTE MURRAY part-time Lecturer, University of Ulster