A History of Modern Britain
Journalist Andrew Marr Chronicles the Development of a Nation
A History of Modern Britain presented by journalist and commentator Andrew Marr was a hugely successful five part BBC documentary series from 2007 that spawned this excellent book of the same name.
The documentary series covered events in and affecting Britain from the climax of the Second World War in 1945 thorough to the last days of Tony Blair’s time as leader of the Labour Party and British Prime Minister in 2007.
A History of Modern Britain the book covers the same period albeit in slightly more detail although this new paperback edition includes a new introductory chapter which mentions recent events such as the beginning of Gordon Brown’s leadership, the start of the international credit crunch and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
Fifty Plus Years in the Life of a Nation
At over six hundred pages, A History of Modern Britain is a big book but even so it cannot possibly to justice to everything of importance that has occurred in British life since the end of World War Two. Marr has taken the very sensible approach of providing a detailed overview of modern British history and so has divided the relevant timeframe into five periods (each given a chapter each) so that he can make as thorough a study as possible whilst also providing a book which is clear and engaging.
The first chapter, Hunger and Pride: Britain after the War, covers the period from 1945 to 1955 when a country that was victorious but bankrupted by the Second World War struggled to rebuild itself. While the Labour government of Clement Atlee attempted to build a ‘New Jerusalem’, Britain was forced to rely on financial handouts from America.
The Land of the Lost Content follows Britain from 1955 to 1964, a period of relative stability and prosperity when the British people were anxious for change. This period also marked the beginnings of public distrust in, and mockery of, the political system as the 1961 Profumo Affair dragged the formally closed world of politics firmly into the public gaze.
The events of 1964 to 1979 are chronicled in Harold, Ted and Jim: When the Modern Failed which describes the British desire for technology and advancement that was bogged down in a Wilson government beset with industrial conflict and decline. By the time of Edward Heath’s government in the 1970s Britain is struggling with a three day week and electricity rationing.
Things seemed to be looking up during The British Revolution of 1979 to 1990 when Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister and the character of Britain was changed forever by privatisation and deregulation. Old imperial attitudes were also given an airing during the Falklands Conflict.
The final period that Marr examines is 1990 to 2007, a period deemed Nippy Metro People: Britain from 1990. The end of the Thatcher era marked the time when boom turned to bust and Britain felt more vulnerable than ever to international economic change and global warming.
Popular History
Andrew Marr has a very personable writing style and even when his recollections display some bias (such as his frank admiration of Margaret Thatcher) it is hard to take offence as he is more often than not at pains to portray the important characters in the best light possible and to give a positive spin to social events.
Marr is a noted political journalist and it is when he is discussing political history that he is most comfortable, some of the asides into music and fashion seem to be rather hastily put together and not quite convincing.
Recent history is often overlooked or distorted by political spin and the media and so Marr’s A History of Modern Britain is an important and useful book for anyone wishing to understand better the times in which we are living.
A History of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr
ISBN 978-0330439831, Pan Books, 2008, £8.99, pp629
