The Impossible Office?
The Impossible Office?
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USDA Times and Sunday Times Book of the Year. The recent political chaos enfolding Downing Street provides the framing for the extraordinary story of the office of Prime Minister, and how and why it has endured longer than any other democratic political office in world history. Sir Anthony Seldon, historian of Number 10, explores the lives and careers, crises and scandals, and successes and failures of our great Prime Ministers from Robert Walpole to Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher, up to the recent churn of Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. Seldon discusses which of our PMs have been most effective and why, as well as probing the changing relationship between the Monarchy and the Prime Minister in intimate detail. A celebration of the humanity, frailty, work and achievements of 57 remarkable individuals who averted revolution and civil war, leading the country through times of peace, crisis and war.
- Features a new chapter on the recent three premierships of Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak
- Looks forward to the coming General Election and asks what could the next Prime Minister do differently?
- Reveals how and why the Prime Minister took over from the Crown as the most powerful figure in Britain
- Explains why the Chancellor has become the second most powerful figure in Britain, and why the job of Foreign Secretary lost its way
- Looks at Prime Ministers as human beings, their spouses and families, and the pathos of the post-premiership
Reviews & endorsements
‘A tremendous, magisterial book, informed and underpinned by brilliant historical and political insight. A triumph.' William Boyd, Author of Trio, Restless and Any Human Heart
' A brilliant, panoramic survey … By the end of this book, you will feel you know many of the holders of the office of prime minister intimately … A must read.' Andrew Adonis, Former Transport Minister, Education Minister and Head of No. 10 Policy Unit, and Author of Ernest Bevin, Labour's Churchill
'… an intelligent and insightful account of the evolution of the role of prime minister.' Andrew Rawnsley, The Observer (Book of the Week)
'We need some answers, and Anthony Seldon is one of the few prime ministerial biographers to seek to provide them. He does so insightfully and mischievously …' Steve Richards, Literary Review
'… enriches our understanding of what it takes to run Britain, with some intriguing ideas for improving the Premiership.' Camilla Cavendish, Former Head of No. 10 Policy Unit, and Author of Extra Time: Ten Lessons for Living Longer Better
'Three hundred years of one of the world's most difficult jobs is worth some reflection - and there is no better way to go about that than to read this excellent book.’ William Hague, Former Leader of the Opposition, First Secretary of State, Foreign Secretary, and Leader of the House of Commons
'A fascinating review of the role of the prime minister and those who have filled it … how did they change the role, and how did it change them and the country.’ Jacqui Smith, Former Home Secretary
Product details
March 2024Adobe eBook Reader
9781009429788
0 pages
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Note on the revised edition
- 1. The 300th Anniversary Bookend Prime Ministers: Walpole and Johnson
- 2. A Country Transformed, 1721–2024
- 3. The Liminal Premiership: From the Saxons to 1806
- 4. The Transformational Prime Ministers, 1806–2024
- 5. The Powers and Resources of the Prime Minister, 1721–2024
- 6. The Constraints on the Prime Minister, 1721–2024
- 7. The Eclipse of the Monarchy, 1660–2024
- 8. The Rise and Fall of the Foreign Secretary, 1782–2024
- 9. The Rise, and Rise, of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1660–2024
- 10. The Impossible Office? The Prime Minister by 2024.
