Masterly.' - CHARLES VYVYAN, STANDPOINT'Fascinating stuff.' - SPECTATOR'Possibly the finest, most comprehensive analysis of the home front in the Great War ever produced.' - LITERARY REVIEW'Every bit as good as its two predecessors.
That it should have changed so radically was very largely the work of an astonishingly dynamic and high-minded group of people - politicians and philanthropists, writers and thinkers - who in a matter of decades fundamentally remade the country, its institutions and its mindset, and laid the foundations for modern society.
Exploring Britain during its imperial peak, the narrative uncovers the underlying tensions and fierce rivalries that characterized the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Through richly detailed historical accounts, it reveals the complexities of a nation that appeared opulent on the surface while grappling with significant social and political conflicts.
Re-issued to coincide with this anniversary, Simon Heffer's perceptive book lends weight to the increasingly compelling case for Vaughan Williams' recognition as the most important English composer of the twentieth century.
A stirring anthology of speeches from every period of British history.
"The folk memory of Britain in the years before the Great War is of a powerful, contented, orderly and thriving country. It commanded a vast empire. It bestrode international commerce. Yet things were very different beneath the surface. Torn apart by strikes, class wars and political and national unrest, pre-war Britain was on the brink of anarchy. In 'The Age of Decadence, ' Simon Heffer lights up the era through vivid pen-portraits of the great men and women of the day -- including Gladstone, Parnell, Asquith and Churchill, but also Mrs Pankhurst, Beatrice Webb, Baden-Powell, Wilde and Shaw -- creating a richly detailed panorama of a great power that, through both accident and arrogance, was forced to face potentially fatal challenges."-- From the rear cover
Now, in his new book Strictly English, he makes an impassioned case for an end to the sloppiness that has become such a hallmark of everyday speech and writing, and shows how accuracy and clarity are within the grasp of anyone who is prepared to take the time to master a few simple rules.
"Be in no doubt: the beer was drunk but the man drank the beer." "We must avoid vulgarities like 'front up'. If someone is 'fronting up' a television show, then he is presenting it." Simon Heffer's incisive and amusingly despairing emails to colleagues at the The Daily Telegraph about grammatical mistakes and stylistic slips have attracted a growing band of ardent fans over recent years. Now, in his new book Strictly English, he makes an impassioned case for an end to the sloppiness that has become such a hallmark of everyday speech and writing, and shows how accuracy and clarity are within the grasp of anyone who is prepared to take the time to master a few simple rules. If you wince when you see "different than" in print, or are offended by people who think that "infer" and "imply" mean the same thing, then this book will provide reassurance that you are not alone. And if you believe that precise and elegant English really does matter, then it will prove required reading.
From Macaulay in the 19th century to Fukuyama in the late 20th, historians have often been lulled into thinking that things can only get better. Such belief in progress, argues leading political commentator Simon Heffer, may be typical of times of plenty, but it ignores a less palatable truth: that, since the beginnings of recorded history, the major events in international relations can be attributed to a single cause, the desire by rulers to assert or protect their power. Taking a panoramic view from the days of Thucydides up to the present, Heffer offers a fourfold analysis of the motive forces behind the pursuit of power: land, wealth, God and minds. If we understand these forces, he contends, we can more clearly understand why history is destined to repeat itself.
The book critiques the evolution of the English language, particularly highlighting the negative impact of social media and the internet on linguistic standards. It addresses common confusions and unidiomatic expressions, as well as the rise of neologisms and lazy language habits. The author expresses dismay over the deterioration of grammatical accuracy and clarity, advocating for a return to precise and elegant communication. With a blend of humor and sharp observation, it serves as both a warning and a call to uphold the integrity of the English language.