Product Description

Inspired by the patriotism of his dying father, Rupert Warner uses his position to lead England out of the EC, and almost accidentally into the United States. Even more accidentally, he finds himself running for the Vice-Presidency, and who knows where that might lead.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #615218 in Books
• Published on: 1999-08-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Customer Reviews

no zero star option available
Very poorly written as I recall - simply a (reasonable) idea for a novel padded out to fill a book - the final quarter or so seems to be no more than a draft of "further books in the series" that the author couldn't even be bothered to type out.

One of the worst books I've ever finished, and I only did to see just how bad it would get.

Strange Political Fantasy
The author was editor of the UK's Guardian newspaper for two decades.

The Guardian is a left-of-centre newspaper much disposed to criticising and belittling the USA (especially Republicans) and the Tories in the UK. They also like to poke fun traditional English values in the furtherance of a politically correct agenda (it's no surprise that a good proportion of media and public sector vacancies are advertised in the Guardian). This makes it quite surprising to discover Preston writing what could be regarded a right-wing fantasy. England leaves the EU and becomes the 51st state of the USA. The PM becomes President of the USA following the demise of the incumbent.

You would expect the writing style to be better, but perhaps Preston authored this wish-fulfillment dream in this style to make it sell. It does not suffer the limited vocabulary and development of your average mass-market novel, but there is a lack of depth. This is a putdownable read and after you put it down it is easily forgettable as there is nothing too memorable apart from the premise. If you have constraints on your reading time I wouldn't pick this one up in the first place.

Excellent Entertainment
London Cardinals, excellent! As an American, living in London at the time I read the 51st State, and someone who studied British and American Politics at University (College), I believe Peter Preston truly has his finger on the pulse of insight and entertainment. His examples and vision of the future are clear and modest, not convoluting the story line, but rather enhancing it. Since reading the book, I bring references to it continually in conversations with both American and British friends and colleagues. Hats off to interesting, insightful reading.