Publisher Description

This book is the first to examine all aspects of the crisis together and in depth using an extensive range of official, institutional and personal papers. It demonstrates that a proper understanding of economic and imperial policies requires a sophisticated grasp of political processes. It shows how explanation of British political change must proceed by placing the power elites in their specific contexts, by exposing their beliefs, fears, objectives and strategies, and by displaying their interactions. The Treasury, the Bank of England, big business, the TUC and Keynes, as well as MacDonald, Baldwin, Lloyd George, Churchill, Mosley and Chamberlain are seen tackling some of the most fundamental problems of the modern British state.

Back Cover

Cold Tangerines-now available in softcover- is a collection of stories that celebrate the extraordinary moments hidden in your everyday life. It is about God, and about life, and about the thousands of daily ways in which an awareness of God changes and infuses everything. It is about spiritual life, and about all the things that are called nonspiritual life that might be spiritual after all. It is the snapshots of a young woman making peace with herself and trying to craft a life that captures the energy and exuberance we all long for in the midst of the fear and regret and envy we all carry with us. It is both a voice of challenge and song of comfort, calling you upward to the best possible life, and giving you room to breathe, to rest, to break down, and break through. Cold Tangerines offers bright and varied glimpses of hope and redemption, in and among the heartbreak and boredom and broken glass.

Author Biography

Philip Williamson is Professor of History at the University of Durham, and author of National Crisis and National Government: British Politics, the Economy and Empire 1926-1932 (1992) and Stanley Baldwin: Conservative Leadership and National Values (1999). He is also the author of articles on interwar politics and finance.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Conventions and abbreviations; Introduction; Part I. Components of Crisis: 1. The erosion of Conservative predominance; 2. Economic and imperial troubles; 3. Government and party troubles; 4. 'National crisis'; Part II. Crisis Avoided: 5. The impact of India; 6. Retrenchment and containment; 7. Towards a two-party system; Part III. The Crisis: 8. The financial crisis: July 1931; 9. The political crisis: August 1931; 10. First effects; 11. The emergency government's crisis: September 1931; Part IV. Crisis Overcome: 12. The political reconstruction; 13. The defeated; 14. The national government; Conclusion; Appendix; Sources; Index.

Review

'It is a comprehensive study which will no doubt establish Williamson's reputation as a major authority on the high politics of this tense and dramatic period … The book is a mine of information. New material has been unearthed, often from obscure archives. From such research comes a real understanding of the actors in the drama … a valuable and highly rewarding contribution to the analysis of a highly significant historical event.' The Durham University Journal

Promotional

This 1992 book is an in-depth examination of the prolonged crisis that gave rise to Britain's National government.

Review Quote

"Williamson's revisionist account adds immeasurably to our understanding of the crucial transitional years of the second Labour government. In stressing the importance of the Liberal revival to the instability of 1930 and the reconfiguration of 1931, Williamson provides a realistic portrait of the complexities of party control and governance during a hung parliament and convincingly postdates by eight years a process of two-party polarization Maurice Cowling saw to be complete by 1924....Williamson's studies will probably become the classic accounts of the course of high politics...." Susan Pedersen, Journal of British Studies

Promotional "Headline"

This 1992 book is an in-depth examination of the prolonged crisis that gave rise to Britain's National government.

Description for Bookstore

This 1992 book examines the role of government, big business and economic bodies during Britain's prolonged national crisis of 1926-32. Dr Williamson covers both policy and politics and carries out close examination of the major figures of the time including Baldwin, Churchill, Mosley and Chamberlain.

Description for Library

This 1992 book examines the role of government, big business and economic bodies during Britain's prolonged national crisis of 1926-32. Dr Williamson covers both policy and politics and carries out close examination of the major figures of the time including Baldwin, Churchill, Mosley and Chamberlain.

Details