British Political History

A deliciously irreverent and humorous insider’s account of 25 years working at the very top of British political television ‘What Rob Burley doesn't know about political interviewing isn't worth knowing’ – Andrew Neil ‘A delicious read’ – Emily Maitlis 'He writes beautifully' –...

A History of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr confronts head-on the victory of shopping over politics. It tells the story of how the great political visions of New Jerusalem or a second Elizabethan Age, rival idealisms, came to be defeated by a culture of consumerism, celebrity and...

Brought to you by Penguin. Motherhood is a political state. Helen Charman makes a radical case for what liberated mothering could be, and tells the story of what motherhood has been, from the 1970s to the 2010s. When we talk about motherhood and politics together, we usually talk about isolated...

An unparalleled collection of Full-Cast BBC Drama adaptations of Sean O’Casey’s powerful, poignant works One of Ireland’s foremost playwrights, Sean O’Casey is renowned for his groundbreaking plays depicting the lives of poor, working-class Dubliners struggling with social and political...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Were World Wars I and II inevitable? Were they necessary wars? Or were they products of calamitous failures of judgment? In this monumental and provocative history, Patrick Buchanan makes the case that, if not for the blunders of British statesmen—Winston...

Who became Britain's first Prime Minister on 3 April 1721? When was Karl Marx born? Where and when was the first battle of the Wars of the Roses? When did Big Ben first bong? When did the first British woman cast her vote? (Clue: It wasn't 1918.) Find the answers to these questions and many more...

Experience the gripping political history of colonial conquest and the fierce resistance that shattered an empire. Perfect for your daily commute, this dramatic deep dive transports you from the late Mughal era to the turbulent rise of the East India Company. Witness the fractured alliances that...

The thrilling and definitive account of the Abdication Crisis of 1936. On December 10, 1936, King Edward VIII brought a great international drama to a close when he abdicated, renouncing the throne of the United Kingdom for himself and his heirs. The reason he gave when addressing his subjects...

Bloomsbury presents Killers of the King by Charles Spencer, read by Richard Trinder. Charles Spencer tells the shocking stories and fascinating fates of the men who signed Charles I’s death warrant in this Sunday Times bestseller 'Seamless, pacy and riveting ... exceptional' ALISON WEIR 'The...

Bloomsbury presents The Second by Carol Anderson, Ph.D., read by Karen Chilton. From the New York Times bestselling author of White Rage, an unflinching, critical new look at the Second Amendment and how it has been engineered to deny the rights of African Americans since its inception. In The...

Experience immersive British history as a royal residence transforms into the ultimate battleground for democracy. Perfect for your daily commute or a deep-focus learning session, this sweeping narrative chronicles the fierce power struggles between monarchs, aristocrats, and commoners. Step...

Bloomsbury presents The Abolition of Britain written and read by Peter Hitchens How do you tell that a country has died? In this devastating, pessimistic, though critically-timed revised edition of his classic book, Peter Hitchens describes and regrets the abolition of Britain. In the years...

The hotly anticipated final book of bestselling author Tim Shipman’s Brexit quartet. The Johnson Years to Rishi Sunak 'Magnificent… Pacy and packed with delicious details… Shipman puts you in the room… His analysis is sharp and full of insight… For those seeking a moment-by-moment...

The first panoramic history of the Western world from the 1970s to the present day: Empire of Democracy is the story for those asking how we got to where we are. Half a century ago, at the height of the Cold War and amidst a world economic crisis, the Western democracies were forced to undergo a...

This third and final volume of the unexpurgated diaries of Sir Henry 'Chips' Channon begins as the Second World War is turning in the Allies' favour. It ends with a prematurely aged Chips descending into poor health but still socially active and able to turn a pointed phrase about the political events that swirl around him and the great and the good with whom he mingles.

Experience a sweeping British history where bloody conquests and cultural upheavals forge a modern, united nation. Perfect for an educational morning commute, this immersive narrative transports you from prehistoric forests and Roman roads directly into smoky medieval halls. Rather than merely...

Alfraed is now the Earl of Cleveland but his new position throws him into a world of intrigue. There are plots and coups as the enemies of England try to wrest the land from King Henry. The Earl has to fight the Scots, the Welsh and Vikings before he travels to Normandy to fight alongside the...

Recruited by British Intelligence to infiltrate the IRA and Sinn Féin during the height of the Northern Ireland Troubles, they were ‘agents of influence’. With codenames like INFLICTION, STAKEKNIFE, 3007 and CAROL, these spies played a pivotal role in the fight against Irish republicanism...

The height of Mt. Everest was first measured in 1850, but the closest any westerner got to Everest during the next 71 years, until 1921, was 40 miles. The Hunt for Mt. Everest tells the story of the 71-year quest to find the world's highest mountain. It's a tale of high drama, of...

The Times Best Politics and Current Affairs Books of the Year An entertaining and revealing history of modern British politics from Steve Richards, broadcaster, journalist, and author of The Prime Ministers We Never Had. Every few weeks in British politics, a columnist will reach for the word...