Martin Lindsay (1) (1905–1981)

Something of a beginner's guide to the origins, development and operation of the House of Commons, at least as it existed in the immediate, post-World War II era. You can get better and more detailed accounts from some of the books put out by Pelican around the same time, but nevertheless, this does have its points, especially since it was written by an M.P., and the choice of illustrations is rather nice. Also noteworthy in that it has some views of the chamber that was destroyed in 1941.

Matin Lindsay's spare, unadorned writing style makes a powerful statement.

There is a special preface to the Penguin edition, in which the author says that `Mr Lane tells me that he is printing fifty thousand copies'. Only 2,000 copies of the hardback edition sold.