
More than the fascinating story of Asquith's love for Venetia Stanley, these letters provide a rare inside look at British politics. They reveal a statesman faced with political ruin in the Irish civil war who escaped by leading Britain through the crisis of 1914 and the early years of the war. Asquith confided completely in Venetia, sharing with her military secrets that were unknown to the Cabinet or to naval and military commanders. He described political intrigues and wrote openly of his colleagues--who include Lloyd George, Churchill, and Kitchener.
This collection of correspondence investigates the intersection of personal intimacy and high-level statecraft during one of the most volatile periods in British history. H.H. Asquith, serving as Prime Minister, utilized these letters to document his internal processing of the Irish Home Rule crisis and the onset of the First World War. By analyzing these private communications, the text argues that Asquith’s reliance on Venetia Stanley provided him with a unique, albeit risky, outlet for managing the immense pressures of wartime leadership.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Historians and political scholars frequently cite this collection as a vital primary source for understanding the psychological state of British leadership during the early 20th century. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides an unfiltered look at the administrative and personal burdens of the Prime Minister during a national crisis.
Page Count:
703
Publication Date:
1985-12-19
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192851462
ISBN-13:
9780192851468
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!