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The Wild Men: The Remarkable Story of Britain's First Labour Government  (Hardback)
  • The Wild Men: The Remarkable Story of Britain's First Labour Government  (Hardback)
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The Wild Men: The Remarkable Story of Britain's First Labour Government (Hardback)

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£20.00
Hardback 336 Pages
Published: 18/01/2024
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Waterstones Says

Marking a century since the formation of the first British Labour government, Torrance's character-driven account of the working-class politicians who shook up the Westminster establishment makes for compelling and evocative reading.

The incredible story of the first Labour administration and the 'wild men' who shook up the British establishment. In 1923, four short years since the end of the First World War, and after the passing of the Act which gave all men the vote, an inconclusive election result and the prospect of a constitutional crisis opened the door for a radically different sort of government: men from working-class backgrounds who had never before occupied the corridors of power at Westminster.

The Wild Men tells the story of that first Labour administration – its unexpected birth, fraught existence, and controversial downfall – through the eyes of those who found themselves in the House of Commons, running the country for the people. Blending biography and history into a compelling narrative, David Torrance reassesses the UK’s first Labour government a century after it shook up a British establishment still reeling from the War – and how the establishment eventually fought back.

This is an extraordinary period in British political history which echoes down the years to our current politics and laid the foundations for the Britain of today.

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
ISBN: 9781399411431
Number of pages: 336
Dimensions: 234 x 153 mm


MEDIA REVIEWS

Thoroughly researched… The Wild Men brings superbly to life figures whom history should not have forgotten. - The Daily Telegraph

A highly readable, enjoyable and informative book. - The Financial Times

Lively, interesting [and] based on an impressive amount of archival research. A highly readable guide to a landmark historical episode. - Richard Toye, author of Age of Hope: Labour, 1945, and the Birth of Modern Britain.

With meticulous reconstruction and careful judgement, this is a fascinating piece of work with some intriguing parallels for our own times. - Peter Hennessy

Torrance’s book is (and I don’t think I have ever described a political history book in these words) riveting. It is a joy to read; it is highly illuminating; it is – to me – a revelation. - NetGalley review

Deeply researched. - Socialist Worker

A timely reappraisal of a momentous period in British politics. - The Glasgow Herald

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“An excellent, excellent book”

David Torrance has written an excellent, excellent book: The Wild Men. The subtitle positions it perfectly; “The Remarkable Story of Britain’s First Labour Government.” I’ll be honest, I expected this to be fairly dry... More

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