The Searchers: Five Rebels, Their Dream of a Different Britain, and Their Many Enemies

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Andy Beckett

The Searchers

Five Rebels, Their Dream of a Different Britain, and Their Many Enemies

Andy Beckett

$75

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Allen Lane
06 August 2024

History; British & Irish history; Political science & theory; Socialism & left-of-centre democratic ideologies

The untold story of British politics in modern times, through the triumphs and disasters of its five most radical figures

In the great revolutionary year of 1968, Tony Benn was a respectable Labour minister in his forties, and he was restless. While new social movements were shaking up Britain and much of the world, Westminster politics seemed stuck. It was time, he decided, for a different approach.

Over the next half century, the radicalized Benn helped forge a new left in Britain. He was joined by four other politicians, who would become comrades, collaborators and rivals- Ken Livingstone, John McDonnell, Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn.

For Andy Beckett, the story of these admired and loathed political explorers - both their sudden breakthroughs and long stretches in the wilderness - is the untold story of British politics in modern times. As he reveals, their project to create a radically more equal, liberal and democratic Britain has been much more influential than electoral history might suggest, and can be seen from the shape of our city life to the causes of our culture wars.

For their many detractors, this influence was and remains dangerous- a form of extremism that must be stamped out. But as these five searchers believed, in politics there is no total victory - nor total defeat.

By: Andy Beckett
Imprint: Allen Lane
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 241mm, Width: 161mm, Spine: 37mm
Weight: 951g
ISBN: 9780241394229
ISBN 10: 0241394228
Pages: 560
Publication Date: 06 August 2024
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Andy Beckett is a Guardian columnist. He has also written for the Economist, The New York Times magazine, the London Review of Books and the Independent on Sunday. His previous books are Promised You A Miracle, When the Lights Went Out and Pinochet in Piccadilly.

Reviews for The Searchers: Five Rebels, Their Dream of a Different Britain, and Their Many Enemies

PRAISE FOR PROMISED YOU A MIRACLE: 'Lively, provoking, bracingly anti-nostalgic.' -- Hilary Mantel An anthology of an age . . . A book that offers so much pleasure and insight. -- Ian Jack * Guardian * Intelligent, entertaining, readable, convincing and timely. It is history well told and properly done. -- Daniel Finkelstein * The Times *