reviews

Anti-Corn Law League in the This book is twenty-first century Liberal and But there is a very able article 1840s to the Institute of Eco- Liberal Democrat practice, and on ‘Nonconformity’ (by Keith nomic Affairs, the Rowntree not only a one of the differences between Robbins), which goes a long Trust and the Tawney Society Liberal and Thatcherite concep- way towards addressing the in the twentieth century. goldmine as tions of freedom, as Conrad Liberal approach in these mat- This book is not only a gold- a reference Russell stressed in his An Intel- ters. For, as Robbins points out, mine as a reference work, but ligent Person’s Guide to Liberalism ‘“Nonconformity”, in any era, also a pleasure to read. Many work, but (London: Gerald Duckworth presents itself in opposition to entries are authored by leading & Co Ltd, 1999, p. 66). Indeed, a prevailing “Establishment”’ specialists in the field – such as also a pleas- participatory citizenship was an (p. 304), whether religious, eco- Jon Parry on ‘Lord John Rus- important component of Lord nomic or political. This comes sell’ and John A. Thompson on ure to read. Russell’s strategy regarding ‘the together with the maxim that ‘Woodrow Wilson’ – and all use and dispersal of power’, as ‘whatever was morally wrong are stimulating and sometimes Duncan Brack shows in his Dic- [can]not be politically right’ controversial in a thought- tionary entry on the late Liberal (p.305) – a maxim certainly provoking and challenging Democrat peer: for, ultimately, difficult to interpret, and yet way. ‘Hobhouse’ and ‘Rawls’ there can be no security from essential to the integrity and the – spanning, between them, state oppression in the private coherence of British Liberalism twentieth-century Anglo- sphere without citizens’ active since Gladstone. American thought on justice involvement in, and control I can recommend this book and liberty – are discussed over, the running of the state. wholeheartedly to readers of by David Howarth, a scholar Unfortunately there is no this Journal. and a Liberal Democrat MP. entry on ‘Citizenship’. Neither He examines clearly both the is there one on ‘Religion’ – Dr Eugenio F. Biagini is Reviews established and classical priori- although the latter must be a Editor of the Journal of Liberal ties of liberalism, and some of major concern for the friends of History and a Fellow of Robinson its present-day concerns (such liberty in the present century. College, Cambridge. as sectarianism, highlighted by Rawls’ concept of ‘public reason’, which excludes ‘the use in politics of references to holy texts and religious reasons that Things that never happened not all participants in the debate would recognise as authorita- Duncan Brack (ed.), President Gore … and other things that tive. [Rawls] wanted political never happened (London: Politico’s Publishing, 2006) actors to confine themselves to reasons that could count as Reviewed by Robert Ingham reasons for all participants in the debate’, p. 339). The entry on ‘Freedom’ ounterfactual history at each of these key points both is penned by Ralf Dahren- – the study of ‘what ifs?’ of individual choices and of dorf (himself the subject of an C– is fun; but does it tell us broader socio-economic forces.’ elegant entry by Julie Smith), anything about the individual In seeking to explain why and is an incisive treatment of decisions and choices, and wider things turned out as they did, a highly complex subject in socio-economic factors, which historians consider the relative 3,600 words. However, it is shape our existence? Historians importance of different potential also a one-sided view which are divided on this question, causal factors. One aspect of this will leave many Liberal Demo- as Duncan Brack’s excellent process is to ponder the circum- crats perplexed. Dahrendorf introduction to this volume – stances in which different out- defines freedom as ‘absence of the successor to Prime Minister comes would have been likely, constraints’ (in the Hobbesian Portillo … and other things that and to think about the conse- tradition) and neglects the never happened (Politico’s, 2003) quences of such differences for ‘republican’ notion of liberty – makes clear. Unsurprisingly, the broader sweep of history. For as participatory citizenship Brack is himself convinced of example, if Frank Byers had held and civic obligation. The lat- the value of counterfactual his- his North Dorset seat in 1950 ter is not only central to British tory: ‘It can reinforce the analy- (and subsequently) might he liberal thought – from John sis of what actually happened by have been elected Liberal Leader Milton to J. S. Mill and the identifying the points at which in preference to Jo Grimond in New Liberals – but is also a vital things could have happened 1956? Would the Liberal Party dimension of twentieth and differently, and the relevance have revived under Byers, or

Journal of Liberal History 56 Autumn 2007 41 reviews revived in the same sort of way Commissioner and winning the 1924 and thereby revived his as it did under Grimond? And Charlemagne Prize for achiev- party, although it seems a little would this have made any dif- ing ‘legendary success … in implausible to suggest that the ference to British politics in the implementing the single market bulk of the cabinet of 1914 could 1960s and beyond? programme’. R. J. Briand, writ- have returned ten years on. These sorts of questions ing about the British political There are only a handful of should always be at the back of a scene in the 1990s, cleverly sug- nineteenth-century counter- historian’s mind but is it worth gests that the real events of the factuals, but these essays are bringing such debates to the decade featured in a brilliantly amongst the best in the volume. forefront? Careful consideration counter-intuitive essay in a Tony Little tackles perhaps the of routes not taken can quickly volume entitled Prime Minister greatest ‘what if?’ in British develop into whimsical flights Blair … and other things that never politics – the failure to secure of fancy – the ‘parlour games’ happened. Mark Garnett imag- Home Rule for Ireland in 1886. dismissed by E. H. Carr. Brack ines Michael Howard becoming His account of how things argues for the policing of coun- Tory leader in 1997, using crates could have gone differently is terfactual history to ensure that of ale from Rotherham to win entirely convincing and raises its results are analytically useful. William Hague’s support. fresh questions about who was His book provides an oppor- Several authors examine to blame for an outcome the tunity to assess whether this is alternatives to the realignment ramifications of which continue achievable. of British politics which mar- to be felt well over one hundred Firstly, however, President ginalised the Liberal Party in years later. Mark Pack and Matt Gore is a highly entertaining the early decades of the twen- Cole look at the alignment of read. All of the essays are inter- tieth century. David Boyle parties in the mid-nineteenth esting and there are some excel- questions the reasons why the century. Pack takes as his start- lent jokes intermingled with the Labour Party emerged commit- ing point the very narrow vote weightier points. In discussing ted to the bureaucratic social- in the Commons in favour of what might have happened had ism of the Webbs rather than, the 1832 Reform Bill and sug- the UK joined the Common for example, the co-operative gests that the Peelites would Market in 1957, Peter Riddell movement, which would have have been in the ascendant had imagines Margaret Thatcher been more congenial to the the vote gone the other way, being dispatched to Brussels as a Liberals. His suggestion that a largely at the expense of the different outcome could have ultra-Tories. In this scenario, resulted from Beatrice Potter the Liberal Party might never marrying Joseph Chamberlain, have come into existence. Cole rather than Sidney Webb, seems suggests that the fortunes of preposterous at first but is plau- the Liberal Party would have sibly argued. Robert Waller’s been marred if Robert Peel had look at the 1903 pact between lived beyond 1850, leading to the Liberal and Labour Par- the earlier emergence of Labour ties is a succinct analysis of the – ‘seeking to preserve the eight- arguments for and against the eenth century, [Peel] had has- inevitability of Labour’s rise. tened on the twentieth’. The complex political situation Some of the chapters on for- of the early 1920s is well suited eign issues are also very strong. to counterfactual speculation Richard Grayson suggests that and Jaime Reynolds and David the premature death of the Hughes do not disappoint. Rey- moderate but popular German nolds, in arguing against the politician Gustav Stresemann inevitability of a Liberal decline, may have been a crucial moment makes some telling points about in the story of Hitler’s rise to the resilience of the established power. Helen Szamuely makes party system. His suggestion the case for Czechoslovakia that Ramsay MacDonald’s elec- initiating the Second World tion as Labour Leader in 1922 War by standing up to Hitler in was a key turning-point in the 1938, although her suggestion Liberal Party’s history deserves that this could have exposed further investigation. Hughes weaknesses in Hitler’s posi- uses fictitious diary entries and tion seems ambitious given memoirs to show how Asquith the events of 1939–40. Byron could have taken power in Criddle and John Gittings offer

42 Journal of Liberal History 56 Autumn 2007 reviews expert views on developments the different personalities and ­President professional careers independ- in French politics since the 1980s perceptions of the two party ent of their partners.) The forty and an attempt by Mao Zedong leaders. Although that spe- Gore spouses whose lives are sum- to make contact with President cific dispute could have been marised in these pages are of Roosevelt in 1945, respectively. avoided, the tensions between presents an necessity a very motley bunch. Two well-written chapters Owen and Steel which under- interesting Some remain well-known show the limitations of counter- mined the performance of the and relatively famous. Oth- factual history. Simon Buckby Alliance in the 1987 general range of ers have lapsed into obscurity. and Jon Mendelsohn argue how election were surely inevitable. Many of the earlier individuals, Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination In conclusion, President Gore essays and like Anne North, Joan Can- in 1995 might have prevented presents an interesting range of ning, Catherine Wellington, a peaceful settlement being essays and will appeal to any- will appeal to Georgina Salisbury and Han- reached between Israel and the one with an interest in political anyone with nah Rosebery, are now largely Palestinians but also recognise history. Few of the chapters forgotten figures. Other, more that peace would only have disappoint or, forgetting that an interest contemporary, ladies like Clem- been possible if Yasser Ara- counterfactual history is meant mie Churchill, Mary Wilson, fat had displayed a degree of to be a technique for analysing in political Audrey Callaghan and Norma statesmanship otherwise absent what actually did happen, lapse Major, are widely remembered, throughout his long career. into pure fiction. Few, however, history. even admired, by many readers. Duncan Brack gives a blow-by- live up to the aims of the edi- Of all these married couples, blow account of how the dis- tor’s introduction and shed new only the Melbournes (formerly pute between the Liberal Party light on old questions. Caroline and William Lamb) and SDP over defence policy in formally separated, although 1986 should have been avoided, Robert Ingham is a historical writer Dorothy Macmillan repeatedly but also recognises that the row and Reviews Editor of the Journal pestered Harold to release her was to some extent driven by of Liberal History. from a loveless marriage, and for more than thirty years, as is well known, Lloyd George’s lifestyle was close to that of a bigamist – and an unfaithful one at that! From Catherine Walpole to Cherie Blair There is a huge variation, however, in the amount of space Mark Hichens, Prime Ministers’ Wives – and One Husband given to each entry. By far the (London: Peter Owen, 2004) longest piece in the book is on Clementine Churchill (pp. Reviewed by Dr J. Graham Jones 159–86), herself the subject of a fine biography published in 1979, two years after her death, he appearance of this Thatcher) in the light of their by her sole surviving child Mary fascinating and unique own personalities and achieve- Soames, but there are also sub- Tvolume is to be warmly ments as well as the roles they stantial essays on Mary Anne welcomed. The characters have indirectly played in British Disraeli, Catherine Gladstone, and personalities of the ‘better history. Margot Asquith, Margaret halves’ of leading politicians The volume provides us with Lloyd George and Dorothy constitute an endlessly absorb- biographies of varying detail of Macmillan. Some consorts such ing theme. Indeed, this highly each Prime Minister’s consort as Anne Grenville, Julia Peel, readable tome is an admirable from Catherine Walpole, the Sarah Campbell-Bannerman companion volume to Roger ultimately unfaithful wife of and Annie Bonar-Law are given Ellis’s and Geoffrey Treasure’s Sir Robert Walpole (generally notably short shrift in about half Britain’s Prime Ministers (Shep- considered to have been the a page. It would be interesting heard-Walwyn, 2005) (reviewed first British Prime Minister) to know how the author decided in Journal of Liberal History 53 who predeceased her husband on the allocation of space and (Winter 2006–07)), with which by eight years, to Cherie Blair, detail: do these reflect the availa- it can profitably be read in con- wife of the just-departed Prime ble amount of published material junction. The author is a well- Minister, and notable for pursu- on each individual, or simply the known biographer and historian ing a professional career in her personal interest of the compiler and a retired history teacher. In own right as well as bringing up in each one? this timely study, Mark Hich- four children. (Previously only Readers of this journal ens examines these thirty-nine Audrey Callaghan and Denis would be most attracted by wives and one husband (Denis Thatcher had also enjoyed the absorbing accounts of

Journal of Liberal History 56 Autumn 2007 43