Philip French (1933–2015)

Fine collection of light essays originally published in the 1960's on the Atlee government and its period. By switching between worthy if at times a little dry political discussion on such controversies as Greece, Palestine, the NHS debates and steel nationalisation, with broader background pieces about spivs, Rank films, and the Festival of Britain, it brings the era to life.

I had known that bread went on the ration after the war having been kept off it throughout the actual conflict. I owe to this book the revelation that rationing did not succeed in cutting consumption, only adding a few hundred more bureaucrats to the public payroll.

I would describe this book as "Sunday Times" from the era when that was a paper worth reading. By which i mean that it is knowledgable and articulate, and imbued with a humanist goodwill and belief in progress. The authors lay out in detail the shortcomings and errors of the government, but tacitly agree that it was progressive, did its best, and that slowly and uncertainly improvements came. Most writers now would be much more inclined to sneer.… (meer)