Margaret Thatcher: A Portrait of the Iron Lady (Perfect Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

John Blundell has been one of the most effective champions of the free-enterprise economic model which has delivered progress and prosperity around the world. Therefore he is very well placed to explain to Americans the beliefs and principles which underpinned what became known as "Thatcherism". --Lady Thatcher, Summer 2008

Having been a member of the radical pre-Thatcherite edge of the Conservative Party and having lived in the USA for 11 years, John Blundell is very well placed to explain the Thatcherism to American and British readers alike. --Rt Hon David Davis MP, Shadow Home Secretary for the Conservative Party (UK)

John Blundell is uniquely well placed to explain Lady Thatcher and her accomplishments to Americans because he was so deeply involved in the war of ideas in the UK yet spent a great deal of time in the USA. --Edwin Meese III, former US Attorney General

John Blundell is uniquely well placed to explain Lady Thatcher and her accomplishments to Americans because he was so deeply involved in the war of ideas in the UK yet spent a great deal of time in the USA. --Edwin Meese III, former US Attorney General

This is a biography of former Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 and leader of the Conservative party from 1975 to 1990, "the woman who was the pivotal point of the rescue of a country, the woman who woke up her nation and made it once again a world leader and player," to quote author Blundell (Director-General, Institute of Economic Affairs, UK). In addition to recounting the events of her political and (to a much lesser extent) personal life, Blundell spends much time lauding the economic tenets of Thatcherism and Thatcher's general success in imposing them. --BOOK NEWS, Inc./Reference & Research Book News

Product Description

This biography of Lady Thatcher relates in warm detail the life of Margaret Thatcher, her achievements as British Prime Minister, and her life since retirement. Written in a vigorous, no-nonsense style, Lady Thatcher provides a succinct portrait of the Iron Lady, illustrating what the terms Thatcherite and Thatcherism really mean. Blundell shows why Thatcher was such an outstanding world leader and such an inspiration for women leaders in particular.

The book begins with contrasting scenes the desolation of Britain in the 1978-9 Winter of Discontent prior to Thatcher's premiership, and the economic buoyancy and national self-confidence that prevailed by the end of her period in office 11½ years later. The body of the text provides a chronological, strongly narrative treatment of Thatcher's life, from childhood through to current times.

When Margaret Thatcher donated $3m to the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, to establish the Thatcher Center, it was John Blundell who proposed the toast to her in front of the 500+ audience assembled to mark the occasion. This book is his personal portrait of Margaret Thatcher, the woman who was the pivotal point of the rescue of a country, a woman who woke up her nation and made it once again a world leader. It is not only the story of her life but also an examination of the ideas, interests, and circumstances surrounding key events.

The author illustrates Thatcher's decisive style in handling potentially explosive issues, her sang-froid, and her charm through numerous vignettes and quotes. He relates the facts of Margaret Thatcher's terms in power and explains how policy reforms and political perspectives that are now taken for granted in Britain had to be fought for.

The transformation she brought to the United Kingdom was stunning on many fronts. Pre-Thatcher, Blundell says, a sclerotic union-dominated economy was typified by surly service, poor products and a "craven" business class. Post-Thatcher even the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), an exemplar of what Americans call the "liberal media," extended its coverage of the private business sector quite considerably, such is the emphasis on the values of capitalism in today's society. Service and product quality have been improved many times over. The choice and level of quality and service that had so impressed the author on his first visits to the U.S. in 1974 was becoming commonplace in the UK by the end of her terms as Prime Minister.

Introduction
1. Childhood
2. University
3 Launching
4. Elected 40
5. Opposition I
6. Education Secretary
7. Reflections
8. Leader
9. Opposition II
10. Power
11. Liberating the Economy
12. Privatizing the Commanding Heights
13. Selling Off Public Housing
14. Going to War
15. Beating the Miners
16. Reforming the Unions
17. Battling the IRA
18. Befriending America
19. Kicking Down the Wall
20. Dealing With Brussels
21. Resignation
22. Retirement
23. Family: Denis, Carol, Mark
24. Men: Alf, Keith, Ronald, Alfred, Alan, Ralph
25. Her World
26. Ten Lessons

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Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: Algora Publishing (September 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875866301
• ISBN-13: 978-0875866307
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #866,834 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Margaret Thatcher: Portrait of the Iron Lady, June 12, 2009

By	Carol Roll "yellow rose" (Centreville, VA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book was written in an important time in the Western world: Margaret Thatcher's assessment and follow-through of changes that needed to take place was very astute. She showed great courage in attacking said problems. I consider her a hero and recommend the book to any one interested in history.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lesson For America, April 30, 2009

By	Richard Kerr (Morgantown, WV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Margaret Thatcher: A Portrait of the Iron Lady (Hardcover)

This delightfully intimate chronicle of Margaret Thatcher's assault on British socialism reminds us Americans that free-market principles are superior to collectivist schemes. Author John Blundell, a loyal Brit with an unabashed love of America, heads IEA, Britain's foremost liberty-oriented think-tank. His book presents crucial lessons to guide contemporary American economic and defense policy-makers.