David Cannadine Livres

With a superb series of specially selected illustrations, & a pithy introduction to each speech by Cannadine, this collection gives an unforgettably vivid picture of Churchill the orator in action. His voice may be silenced, but his words still speak.

The book presents a thought-provoking perspective on history, urging readers to shift their focus from the traditional narrative of conflict to one that highlights human solidarity and cooperation across time. It challenges conventional interpretations by showcasing examples of mutual support and collaboration, encouraging a deeper understanding of our shared past and the complexities of human relationships.

Cannadine's concern is to explain how generations of Britons have perceived their society and their place within it. He suggests that class may best be understood as a shorthand term for three different but abiding ways in which the British have visualised their social worlds and social identities: class as a seamless hierarchy of individual social relations; class as 'upper', 'middle' and 'lower'; and class as 'us' versus 'them'. Across the last three centuries, the resonance and appeal of these three different ways of viewing British society has ebbed and flowed. Class in Britain is a fascinating and powerful account of why this has been the case. In discussing how we see ourselves and how we see the society to which we belong, Cannadine lays particular emphasis on the role of politicians in shaping social identities in a modern democratic world.

George Macaulay Trevelyan (1876-1962) is a name scarcely familiar in most twentieth-century households. Yet during the first half of this century he was the most famous, honored, influential, and widely read historian of his generation. In this compelling volume David Cannadine preserves the memory of this powerful figure in a thoroughly researched biography that draws from a wealth of Trevelyan's own writings and the recollections of those who knew him.

Why did the royal family become dysfunctional? How did the House of Windsor amass so much wealth? In this entertaining and thought-provoking collection David Cannadine answers these questions and more, offering dazzling brief overviews of topics ranging from class to divorce, privacy to patriotism, the rise and fall of Empire, and the absurd cult of Victorian Values. Brilliantly dissecting the continuing crises of the British monarchy, he reveals how even the most exceptional figures-Churchill and Mosely, Thatcher and Princess Diana-can only be understood in their full historical context. Cannadine skillfully brings the past to life, using it to illuminate the present.

The biography explores the life of Andrew W. Mellon, a significant figure in American history known for his influential roles in industry, government, and philanthropy. It highlights his contributions and the lasting impact he had on various sectors, showcasing his complex character and the transformative legacy he left behind. This landmark work offers a detailed examination of Mellon's life and achievements, providing insights into his influence on American society.

This comprehensive account explores the transformative events and societal changes in nineteenth-century Britain, highlighting key historical figures and movements. The narrative delves into the political, economic, and cultural shifts that shaped the era, providing readers with a deep understanding of the complexities and dynamics of British history during this pivotal time. The author's expertise brings clarity to the intricate connections between historical developments and their lasting impact on modern society.

"A brilliant, multifaceted chronicle of economic and social change." --The New York Times At the outset of the 1870s, the British aristocracy could rightly consider themselves the most fortunate people on earth: they held the lion's share of land, wealth, and power in the world's greatest empire. By the end of the 1930s they had lost not only a generation of sons in the First World War, but also much of their prosperity, prestige, and political significance. Deftly orchestrating an enormous array of documents and letters, facts, and statistics, David Cannadine shows how this shift came about--and how it was reinforced in the aftermath of the Second World War. Astonishingly learned, lucidly written, and sparkling with wit, The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy is a landmark study that dramatically changes our understanding of British social history.

The British Empire has generally been seen as a racist empire (most influentially in Edward Said's "Ornamentalism"). While not wholly denying this, Cannadine, in this funny, often horrifying book, suggests a different dynamic. The British rulers were motivated not by race but by class - they loathed Indians or Africans no more or less than they loathed the great majority of Englishmen, dreaming of an empire based on deference and feudalism. The often farcical gap between these views and reality make "Ornamentalism" both highly enjoyable and extremely provocative for anyone wishing to understand how the British Empire really worked.

David Cannadine's impassioned, controversial plea for us to recognise the importance of both equality and historyGreat works of history have so often had at their heart a wish to sift people in ways that have been profoundly damaging and provided intellectual justification for terrible political decisions. Again and again, categories have been found--religion, nation, class, gender, race, 'civilization'--that have sought to explain world events by fabricating some malevolent or helpless 'other'. The Undivided Past is an agonised attempt to understand how so much of the writing of history has been driven by a fatal desire to dramatize differences - to create an 'us versus them'. Is is above all an appeal to common humanity.