Product Description

'Callaghan is a symbol of our present age as well as our past, New Labour as well as Old. He links the age of Clem Attlee and that of Tony Blair.' Kenneth Morgan 'This is a classic political life, critical, well-balanced, compellingly written' Brian Brivati, The Times 'It is hard to see how the book could have been better done' Alan Watkins, The Spectator 'A superb portrait and a fascinating work of historical scholarship that will become a classic text' Ben Pimlott, The Guardian 'Callaghan was regarded as the epitome of the Labour Party's right-wing establishment. Yet Kenneth Morgan's biography reveals him to be far more interesting and far more complex than that.' Gerald Kaufman, Daily Telegraph This fascinating biography, written by leading historian Kenneth Morgan, tells the story of a man who had a unique political career. Starting in humble circumstances, James Callaghan went on to hold all the major offices of state: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, and, for three tumultuous years, from 1976 to 1979, Prime Minister. This meticulously researched study takes the reader from the age of Attlee to the days of New Labour under Blair.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #731302 in Books
• Published on: 1999-05-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 816 pages

About the Author
Professor Kenneth Morgan is former Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and Honorary Fellow of the Queen's College, Oxford.

Customer Reviews

Studious, Compassionate, Worthy.
Having enjoyed Callaghan's own biography 'Time and Chance', I read this book with keen interest to find out more about a man who I felt had been let down by his own supporters. The book is compssionate towards its subject, authoritative with the events it deals with and adds considerably to recent Labour history.

It is observed by the author that James Callaghan spans the Old and New Labour ideologues. This is a good assessment. Callaghan strides the period of nationalisation, which turns to militancy, and a disorganised party and an unelectable cabinet. In the next few years of leadership 'Callaghan: A Life' covers Callaghan resisting the radicals, such as Benn and Foot, which starts the long transition to the New Party of Tony Blair.

All in all, a worthy study that captures the human side of the struggle one man had against a Union dominated party. Well worth reading!