|
|
| Plot Summary of Thatcher |
|---|
"This is a well-written and insightful early biography of Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first woman Prime Minister. It traces her life from early days in the small town of Grantham, Oxford University science degree, up to her resounding popular re-election for a second term as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party in 1983. As such it has stood the test of the succeeding decades very well. The authors are senior journalists with The Times and have managed to pack many colorful factual details and insider's insights into a balanced and sensible assessment of her life to that date.
The authors chart her career as an industrial chemist, a barrister, and early parliamentary progress, which was as steady as it was impressive. The major surprises (to her, as to us all) are not shirked, such as her election as party leader while in opposition. Neither are all the successes simply credited to her, as the country's demographics and attitudes to the economy and to union strike-anarchy are also recorded, culminating in the fiscal intervention of the IMF in 1977, closely followed by the grim 'Winter of Discontent'. The superficial 'Iron Lady' image is investigated and she emerges as a warm and generous person, of tremendous dedication and sterling conviction, and a worthy leader with many heroic qualities.
There are chapters on her controversial monetarist policy, (fashionable as 'Reaganomics' at the time), and her skilful handling of the fight for the British Falkland Islands which were invaded by Argentina. Her second term from 1983 allowed her reform and revitalize British industry in the next few years, with the able help of such stalwarts as Sir Ian MacGregor, a Scottish-American businessman and industrialist, whose exciting autobiography (spanning both sides of the Atlantic) is told in 'The Enemies Within'--the title itself being an apt Thatcher quotation--and it makes a dramatic sequel to this book. The appendix contains her historic speech to the 1968 party conference, containing useful analyses of party politics, democracy, the welfare state, and the economy--of much value and clearly informing British policy to this day. A living legacy and an inspiration to mixed economy democracy the world over."
Michael JR Jose, Resident Scholar
|
|
| Review Analysis of Thatcher |
|---|
|
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
|
|
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession:
- politician
Job/profession/poverty story
Yes
Politician story?
- Right wing pol fighting left wing
Period of greatest activity?
- 1950+
Subject of Biography
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- politician/elected ruler
Age:
- 40's-50's
Biography of famous person?
Yes
Ethnicity
- White
Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this person?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other people
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
City?
Yes
City:
- London
Misc setting
- scientific labs
Century:
- 1980's-Present
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Book makes you feel?
- encouraged
Commentary on society?
Yes
Commentary on
- decency
- capitalism
Writer's slant towards subject:
- favorable
Story of entire life, or part?
- story of set of events during life
How much dialogue in bio?
- little dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life?
- 26-50% of book
How much is philosophy rather than life story?
- 0-25% of book
|
|
|
Click here for more information about this book
Nicholas Wapshott and George Brock Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Michael JR Jose
SCHOLARS:
| |
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback
Most recent discussions:
General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Suzanne Weyn
10:35:23 PM
George W. Bush
5:33:46 PM
Kin Platt
12:58:29 AM
Anonymous
12:47:34 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun
10:05:52 PM
Jane Rubino
10:04:38 PM
LaVyrle Spencer
10:04:00 PM
G.A. McKevett
10:03:31 PM
David Williams
10:03:01 PM
Steven Pressfield
10:02:30 PM
Jeanette Walls
10:00:19 PM
Darryl Ponicsan
9:59:27 PM
Ann Rinaldi
9:58:30 PM
R.L. Stine
9:57:34 PM
Geoffrey Huntington
9:57:14 PM
Betty Mahmoody
9:56:38 PM
Deric Longden
9:56:11 PM
Mary Downing Hahn
9:55:48 PM
Iris Johansen
9:55:24 PM
Marlo Morgan
9:54:58 PM
More message boards
|
