A riveting history of the daring politicians who challenged the disastrous policies of the British government on the eve of World War II
On May 7, 1940, the House of Commons began perhaps the most crucial debate in British parliamentary history. On its outcome hung the future of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's government and also of Britain -- indeed, perhaps, the world. Troublesome Young Men is Lynne Olson's fascinating account of how a small group of rebellious Tory MPs defied the Chamberlain government's defeatist policies that aimed to appease Europe's tyrants and eventually forced the prime minister's resignation.
Some historians dismiss the "phony war" that preceded this turning point -- from September 1939, when Britain and France declared war on Germany, to May 1940, when Winston Churchill became prime minister -- as a time of waiting and inaction, but Olson makes no such mistake, and describes in dramatic detail the public unrest that spread through Britain then, as people realized how poorly prepared the nation was to confront Hitler, how their basic civil liberties were being jeopardized, and also that there were intrepid politicians willing to risk political suicide to spearhead the opposition to Chamberlain--Harold Macmillan, Robert Boothby, Leo Amery, Ronald Cartland, and Lord Robert Cranborne among them. The political and personal dramas that played out in Parliament and in the nation as Britain faced the threat of fascism virtually on its own are extraordinary--and, in Olson's hands, downright inspiring.
Winston Churchill...
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- 01 Nov 36: "It's only fair. We had to have them in the last war."
- 21 Sep 38: Warns of futility of appeasing Adolf Hitler.
- 03 Jun 39: Predicts war with Germany will come this year.
- 20 Jan 40: Famous "feed the crocodile" line to neutral nations.
- 10 May 40: Asked by King to replace Chamberlain as PM.
- 13 May 40: Famous "Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat" speech.
- 04 Jun 40: Gives his stern "never surrender" speech.
- 14 Jul 40: "We may show mercy, We shall ask none" speech.
- 20 Aug 40: "Never ... was so much owed by so many..."
- 23 Dec 40: "Because of one man" broadcast to Italians.
- 20 Jul 41: Inaugurates the "V for Victory" campaign.
- 08 May 45: Addresses the nation on V-E Day.
- 26 Jul 45: Defeated in first general election since 1935.
- 16 Aug 45: "Iron Curtain" speech to House of Commons.
- 05 Mar 46: Famous "Iron Curtain" speech in America.
- 16 Aug 45: Is made an honorary US citizen.
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