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andrew_russell's review against another edition
4.0
Seasons in the Sun by Dominic Sandbrook provides a sweeping political and social history of Great Britain in the years 1974-1979. Part of a seemingly ongoing series, which currently consists of five books (the first of which is Never Had It So Good A History of Britain from Suez to the Beatles 1956-1964 and the last of which is Who Dares Wins: Britain 1979-1982), it begins with the re-election of Harold Wilson for a second term and ends with the entry into 10 Downing Street of Margaret Thatcher, building a sense of anticipation at the sea change which Thatcherism brought and definitely encouraging the reader to carry on and read the (currently) final book in the series.
It would be wise to read the books in this series in order, in order to gain the necessary historical context in which they each sit. Without this, whilst it is still possible to enjoy the reading experience of each individual book, there shall almost certainly be something missing; a certain knowledge of what exactly it might have felt like at the point of time Seasons In The Sun kicks off.
As far as this book is concerned, it is typical in many ways of Sandbrook's style in writing the others in the series. At over 800 pages long, it is not for the faint-hearted; you need to settle down and accept that this will be a long read. But in many ways, that is it's strength. Typically of the author, the breadth of events and cultural high (and low) points that he draws attention to is vast. Previous books in the series have followed this same line of attack, being broad in terms of the events and social milieu which are described and yet highly, highly detailed at the same time. However, the books preceding this one, whilst always aspiring to achieve this ambitious line of attack successfully, fall short in some ways. Like a disappointing meal at an expensive restaurant, they leave the reader unsatisfied, as there is a bias towards focussing on the macro-economics and policy decisions of the political playmakers of the era and the effects that these had on the wider UK society, with a corresponding neglect of those aspects of daily life which were closest to those living it. The two aren't necessarily connected in anything but the most abstract sense and joining the dots was a challenge that, whilst met head-on by Sandbrook, was never accomplished strongly.
Seasons in the Sun doesn't stray too far from Sandbrook's usual style, as described above. However, it still reads as the most polished of the works in this series, due in large part to the fact that the mid-seventies were intensely political as an era in Britain's social history and thus, it was nigh-on impossible to live through it without feeling the cold touch of the political decision-makers on everyday life in Britain.
It would be dull to relate in detail the events of the time in this review; however, they can broadly be defined in terms of increased industrial unrest, a sense of nihilistic hopelessness in the populace, a growing gap in wealth between the 'have's' and the 'have-nots', a loss of cultural identity, attitudes towards race and sexuality, the decline and eventual collapse of the governments of both Harold Wilson and James Callaghan (and the main causes) and the steady rise of Margaret Thatcher in the political realm.
There are also the lightest of touches on popular culture, including music, sport, TV and literature; but in a book with just over 800 pages, 'the lightest of touches' is still detailed enough to keep the reader engaged. The Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Larry Grayson, Les Dawson, Ken Loache and many others all get a mention and whilst some of these are only mentioned in passing, like a soupcon of salt added to a cooking recipe, they contribute flavour to the recipe that was the mid-to-late seventies.
Sandbrook also manages to make even the political aspects far more intriguing than in previous offerings. Marcia Williams and the destabilising influence she exerted over Harold Wilson, Harold Wilson himself and his slow and tragic decline into paranoia and ill-health, the battles of the far-left and their infiltration of the Labour Party, Jim Callaghan and the somewhat unfair impression left by the Winter of Discontent and the subsequent collapse of his government and of course Thatcher and her singular success in capturing the zeitgeist of the moment and seizing power from an ailing Labour Prime Minister in the election of 1979. We get it all....every enjoyable detail.
And that's what makes this book a winner in comparison to it's predecessors. It's simply a far more enjoyable read. There is very little that is going to disappoint or bore the reader. It has to be said that if you are looking for a light-hearted gallop through the seventies, that takes no time to read, then this most definitely is not the book for you. If though, you are genuinely interested in a detailed and richly painted text, that will paint a very vivid picture of what life was really like then and you have the patience to read through it, then it would be hard to recommend a better book than Seasons in the Sun.
It would be wise to read the books in this series in order, in order to gain the necessary historical context in which they each sit. Without this, whilst it is still possible to enjoy the reading experience of each individual book, there shall almost certainly be something missing; a certain knowledge of what exactly it might have felt like at the point of time Seasons In The Sun kicks off.
As far as this book is concerned, it is typical in many ways of Sandbrook's style in writing the others in the series. At over 800 pages long, it is not for the faint-hearted; you need to settle down and accept that this will be a long read. But in many ways, that is it's strength. Typically of the author, the breadth of events and cultural high (and low) points that he draws attention to is vast. Previous books in the series have followed this same line of attack, being broad in terms of the events and social milieu which are described and yet highly, highly detailed at the same time. However, the books preceding this one, whilst always aspiring to achieve this ambitious line of attack successfully, fall short in some ways. Like a disappointing meal at an expensive restaurant, they leave the reader unsatisfied, as there is a bias towards focussing on the macro-economics and policy decisions of the political playmakers of the era and the effects that these had on the wider UK society, with a corresponding neglect of those aspects of daily life which were closest to those living it. The two aren't necessarily connected in anything but the most abstract sense and joining the dots was a challenge that, whilst met head-on by Sandbrook, was never accomplished strongly.
Seasons in the Sun doesn't stray too far from Sandbrook's usual style, as described above. However, it still reads as the most polished of the works in this series, due in large part to the fact that the mid-seventies were intensely political as an era in Britain's social history and thus, it was nigh-on impossible to live through it without feeling the cold touch of the political decision-makers on everyday life in Britain.
It would be dull to relate in detail the events of the time in this review; however, they can broadly be defined in terms of increased industrial unrest, a sense of nihilistic hopelessness in the populace, a growing gap in wealth between the 'have's' and the 'have-nots', a loss of cultural identity, attitudes towards race and sexuality, the decline and eventual collapse of the governments of both Harold Wilson and James Callaghan (and the main causes) and the steady rise of Margaret Thatcher in the political realm.
There are also the lightest of touches on popular culture, including music, sport, TV and literature; but in a book with just over 800 pages, 'the lightest of touches' is still detailed enough to keep the reader engaged. The Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Larry Grayson, Les Dawson, Ken Loache and many others all get a mention and whilst some of these are only mentioned in passing, like a soupcon of salt added to a cooking recipe, they contribute flavour to the recipe that was the mid-to-late seventies.
Sandbrook also manages to make even the political aspects far more intriguing than in previous offerings. Marcia Williams and the destabilising influence she exerted over Harold Wilson, Harold Wilson himself and his slow and tragic decline into paranoia and ill-health, the battles of the far-left and their infiltration of the Labour Party, Jim Callaghan and the somewhat unfair impression left by the Winter of Discontent and the subsequent collapse of his government and of course Thatcher and her singular success in capturing the zeitgeist of the moment and seizing power from an ailing Labour Prime Minister in the election of 1979. We get it all....every enjoyable detail.
And that's what makes this book a winner in comparison to it's predecessors. It's simply a far more enjoyable read. There is very little that is going to disappoint or bore the reader. It has to be said that if you are looking for a light-hearted gallop through the seventies, that takes no time to read, then this most definitely is not the book for you. If though, you are genuinely interested in a detailed and richly painted text, that will paint a very vivid picture of what life was really like then and you have the patience to read through it, then it would be hard to recommend a better book than Seasons in the Sun.
awrathall's review against another edition
3.75
I took this book out of my school library two days before it closed for lockdown alongside a few other books to keep me from going insane. Not only was it relevant to my current studies in History A-level, it proved a very fitting read for the period, giving an entertaining and somewhat existentially worrying view of the steady demise of a country and its institutions leading towards the dreadful grave of Thatcherism. Sandbrook writes with a fantastic flair and wit, highlighting fantastic events that seem too narratively perfect to be true whilst also delivering an understandable and thorough analysis of the more tricky economic aspects of the period. His source research is so in-depth, with numerous diarists with little influence on the politics themselves becoming almost regular characters due to their constant reoccurrence (Peter Hall, Kingsley Amis, etc.) This gives a relatively unbiased and fair judgement of the politics of the time, and has given me a much greater understanding of it than I previously had.
mwx1010's review against another edition
5.0
And so the fourth volume of Sandbrook’s social history of Britain comes to an end. This one covers the period from the return of Harold Wilson (as a shadow of his former self) to the election of Margaret Thatcher.
As with the others in the series it’s a monster of a book - this feels a little heavier on the politics and lighter on some of the cultural facets of the time than the previous volumes, but that’s perhaps just because so much more is happening with the rise of militant trade unionism culminating in the Winter of Discontent.
It’s quality stuff and Sandbrook puts a lot of effort into rehabilitating the reputation of Jim Callaghan (who comes across as a far more decent and sympathetic figure than I had previously thought of him).
It appeared for some time that Sandbrook was stopping here, however it now seems like he’s pushing on into the eighties and Thatcherism which should be an interesting read.
As with the others in the series it’s a monster of a book - this feels a little heavier on the politics and lighter on some of the cultural facets of the time than the previous volumes, but that’s perhaps just because so much more is happening with the rise of militant trade unionism culminating in the Winter of Discontent.
It’s quality stuff and Sandbrook puts a lot of effort into rehabilitating the reputation of Jim Callaghan (who comes across as a far more decent and sympathetic figure than I had previously thought of him).
It appeared for some time that Sandbrook was stopping here, however it now seems like he’s pushing on into the eighties and Thatcherism which should be an interesting read.
steeluloid's review against another edition
5.0
Well, this book was a bit of a monster! It was so long, it sometimes felt like events were occurring in real time! Thing is, Sandbrook writes so well, it never seemed to drag. He provides such fascinating insight and lively comment that I’d quite happily read his summing up of painting a shed.
This is an excellent companion to [b:When the Lights Went Out: Britain in the Seventies|6372431|When the Lights Went Out Britain in the Seventies|Andy Beckett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328442002l/6372431._SY75_.jpg|6560035], which also touches on many of these subjects from a different perspective. Both of them (to my surprise) left me with a more sympathetic view of James Callaghan.
Reading this from an historical point of view, it’s been fascinating to realise how often history repeats itself. Many of our modern Culture War issues (some of which get me very exercised) that appear to have emerged during the 21st century, turn out to be merely echoes of epic clashes that shaped the world we inherited. Next time I need a sense of perspective over the hotly contended debates of today, I’ll revisit my notes from this book.
This is an excellent companion to [b:When the Lights Went Out: Britain in the Seventies|6372431|When the Lights Went Out Britain in the Seventies|Andy Beckett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328442002l/6372431._SY75_.jpg|6560035], which also touches on many of these subjects from a different perspective. Both of them (to my surprise) left me with a more sympathetic view of James Callaghan.
Reading this from an historical point of view, it’s been fascinating to realise how often history repeats itself. Many of our modern Culture War issues (some of which get me very exercised) that appear to have emerged during the 21st century, turn out to be merely echoes of epic clashes that shaped the world we inherited. Next time I need a sense of perspective over the hotly contended debates of today, I’ll revisit my notes from this book.
chimarsh79's review against another edition
2.0
Let me start by saying I knew this was coming. I knew the moment that Dominic Sandbrook and I fundamentally disagreed on the narrative was coming. And yet I trudged on anyway. Having read the previous three histories of Britain that Sandbrook wrote (taking us from the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s) I was ready to read about Britain in the late 1970s and the oft-mentioned 'Winter of Discontent'.
In Seasons in the Sun Sandbrook write a narrative of historical inevitability. Sandbrook's position is that everything pointed to the inevitable Thatcherism that swept Britain in the 1980s. Sandbrook at one point claims that both Tories and Labour were Thatcherites, having given in to the whims of the individualist times that had come after the swinging 60s. And yet, nothing about this narrative is inevitable. Callaghan might have won in the fall of 1978 had he called the election then (reminds one of Gordon Brown's demise).
Sandbrook's outright glee at the demise of Harold Wilson and his loath for Tony Benn are front and center in the entire book. His attitudes and inevitability narrative would never cut it in an academic history book. Sandbrook also has a tendency to lull the reader into believing a point spending page after page discussing a point, only to provide the counter point or alternative in less than a paragraph. This happens so many times it becomes predictable.
Missing from previous narratives are a greater focus on the cultural narrative of the late 1970s in Britain. If Sandbrook does write more histories, continuing this series through the 1980s, I hope that there is more inclusion of a the cultural story. Furthermore, I hope that they are less a mere ringing endorsement and praise for Sandbrook's beloved Iron Lady.
In Seasons in the Sun Sandbrook write a narrative of historical inevitability. Sandbrook's position is that everything pointed to the inevitable Thatcherism that swept Britain in the 1980s. Sandbrook at one point claims that both Tories and Labour were Thatcherites, having given in to the whims of the individualist times that had come after the swinging 60s. And yet, nothing about this narrative is inevitable. Callaghan might have won in the fall of 1978 had he called the election then (reminds one of Gordon Brown's demise).
Sandbrook's outright glee at the demise of Harold Wilson and his loath for Tony Benn are front and center in the entire book. His attitudes and inevitability narrative would never cut it in an academic history book. Sandbrook also has a tendency to lull the reader into believing a point spending page after page discussing a point, only to provide the counter point or alternative in less than a paragraph. This happens so many times it becomes predictable.
Missing from previous narratives are a greater focus on the cultural narrative of the late 1970s in Britain. If Sandbrook does write more histories, continuing this series through the 1980s, I hope that there is more inclusion of a the cultural story. Furthermore, I hope that they are less a mere ringing endorsement and praise for Sandbrook's beloved Iron Lady.
sirchutney's review against another edition
5.0
A mix of high politics laced with popular culture and sociology
The 1960s was the decade in which the British public fell in love with the consumer society. It was also the decade of the liberation of the individual. Unfortunately, people paid for these "freedoms" in the 1970s. Drawing on a huge range of sources, Sandbrook weaves an effective tale. He contrasts the stories of three prime ministers’. All make doomed attempts to run the economy in partnership with the trade unions. And all sustained the UK economy by borrowing, not caring about the collapse of the manufacturing sector. They all gave into the demands of organised labour. In particular, Sandbrook identifies Wilson as the villain. And Tony Benn plays the pantomime clown. At the end of the decade it all led to the collapse of left-wing virtues such as collectivity and solidarity. The groundwork was thus laid for Thatcher. Who promised a narrow, consumerist ambition for a better life.
Sandbrook enhances his political narrative with the books, films and television of the period. All offer evidence of a deep malaise. A suspicion that we spent too much moral capital. That insurrection might lurk around the corner. Ultimately though, Seasons in the Sun is strong in narrative and anecdote, weak in depth and analysis. But saying this Sandbrook’s prose carries the narrative along. The conclusion: he is right to argue that the 1970s was the most:
“decisive moment in our recent history.”
The 1960s was the decade in which the British public fell in love with the consumer society. It was also the decade of the liberation of the individual. Unfortunately, people paid for these "freedoms" in the 1970s. Drawing on a huge range of sources, Sandbrook weaves an effective tale. He contrasts the stories of three prime ministers’. All make doomed attempts to run the economy in partnership with the trade unions. And all sustained the UK economy by borrowing, not caring about the collapse of the manufacturing sector. They all gave into the demands of organised labour. In particular, Sandbrook identifies Wilson as the villain. And Tony Benn plays the pantomime clown. At the end of the decade it all led to the collapse of left-wing virtues such as collectivity and solidarity. The groundwork was thus laid for Thatcher. Who promised a narrow, consumerist ambition for a better life.
Sandbrook enhances his political narrative with the books, films and television of the period. All offer evidence of a deep malaise. A suspicion that we spent too much moral capital. That insurrection might lurk around the corner. Ultimately though, Seasons in the Sun is strong in narrative and anecdote, weak in depth and analysis. But saying this Sandbrook’s prose carries the narrative along. The conclusion: he is right to argue that the 1970s was the most:
“decisive moment in our recent history.”
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