Product Description

This is a collection of Clement Attlee's writings - brought together by Frank Field MP - that comment on political leadership today. In 1946, Clement Attlee came to power as Labour Prime Minister with a huge landslide majority. Under his leadership some of the greatest reforms were initiated, not least the founding of the National Health Service. Attlee had a firm vision of a more just and equitable society, which the nation wanted. This firm vision is something that Frank Field believes is now absent from politics - the recent fiasco of the 10p tax reform is just one example.In retirement Clement Attlee wrote a masterly series of profiles of his great contemporaries, many published at the time in The Observer. They are of extraordinary historical interest and command an audience in their own right. But to Field they epitomize the intellect and humanity of a hero of 20th Century politics, a man with qualities so profoundly lacking among current political leaders. The book thus has a real purpose. New Labour has lost the plot and lacks a coherent vision for the well being of modern men and women. In a brilliant and controversial introduction, Frank Field argues his case convincingly. There is an afterword by Professor Peter Hennessy that goes on to show the importance of Attlee in full historical perspective.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #80783 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 180 pages

Review
'The Labour MP Frank Field has gathered a selection of [Clement Attlee's] articles, from 1951 to 1966, which have never been published as an anthology before, and what sharp, witty and revealing masterpieces of concision they are ... Field has done a great service in reminding us to turn our ears to laconic little Clem. This particular quiet man, these articles show, had rather a lot to say.'
--The Sunday Independent

Review
'Attlee's Great Contemporaries takes us back to an age when people went into politics to help the poor and strive for the common good, not to fill their pockets with taxpayers' money ... This is why Clement Attlee still matters. Indeed, let's hope that every MP has the sense to read this new book and to show their appreciation in the appropriate manner - by starting to mend our broken political system.'

Review
'The reputation of the prime minister who presided over the creation of the National Health Service and the granting of independence to India has not been well served by Winston Churchill's jibe that Clement Attlee was a modest man, with a lot to be modest about ... [This book] succeeds in challenging this negative image ... When they look for a book to read during the summer recess, Labour MPs would do well to buy this collection.'

Customer Reviews

book review
This book is very useful, I am currently studying post modern history on a degree course and this title is very useful.