A History of Modern Britain

A History of Modern Britain is an account of great political visions - and how they were defeated - and of the resilience, humour and stroppiness of the British public. From the Second World War onwards, Britain has been 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, the true heroes of British theatre, and the victory of shopping over politics.