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Claire Berlinski has written a wonderful book about one of the great leaders of the 20th century. Berlinski does her research well, and her interviews in this work are very eye opening. Everybody from Thatchers top aides, her fiercest opponents, and regular folks are a part of this work. If you are somebody who wants to learn about Margaret Thatcher, this is a great place to start.
She intersperses the narrative parts of the biography with numerous parts of interview with people who knew Margaret Thatcher well. She continues to inspire all those who are opposed to tyranny in all of its forms and support free exercise of individual capabilities unconstrained by bloated governmental intrusions. She was the first female head of government, and to this day all strong female politicians inevitably invoke the comparison with her. Berlinski is also unashamed to use personal anecdotes and psychological evaluation of various protagonists of this biography, which can be viewed either as a bit self-indulgent or fresh and original.
The impact that she had on both the British domestic policy and the international relations at the end of Cold War are monumental and will be hard to eclipse any time soon by a politician of either gender. Margaret Thatcher is one of the most iconic political figures of the 20th century. She even quotes full dialogues from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" in the final chapter on Thatcher's downfall. After the fall of Communism and more or less general adoption of the main aspects of her policy by most major European parties, it looked like the free-market ideas that she so passionately championed had become completely vindicated once and for all. With this in mind, it is not surprising that there are plenty biographies of Madame Thatcher out there.
This comes across a bit overly melodramatic, but nonetheless makes for an interesting read. Unfortunately, in the recent years we have been witnessing the resurgence of those ideas, and it is important now more than ever to be reminded of what sorry life Brittan had led under such policies. However, her fame and achievements go well beyond just being a symbolic first in women's ascension in public and professional life. I tend to be more inclined towards the latter, but this may not sit too well with all readers.The importance of Margaret Thatcher has only increased over the years. There is enough information on her online to completely satisfy anyone's curiosity.
And yet, Claire Berlinski manages to find a unique new angle and write a biography that is original and distinctive. She was one of the main politicians that opposed and fought socialism in all of its forms. This book is a useful reminder of that and an inspiration for everyone for the way out of that predicament.
This book gives me hope that the US can be pulled out of the depths of socialism before it's too late.
Berlinski does an excellent job of capturing the essence of Thatcher, and how she, with indomitable will, turned around a collapsing country. Although thought of as cold and impersonal, Thatcher developed remarkable relationships with Mikhail Gorbachev and especially Ronald Reagan, which greatly enhanced the role she was able to play. She stresses that Thatcher emphasized the immorality, actually the evil, of socialism in its debilitating effects on people even more than its economic inefficiency. With amazing guts, and aided by some luck, Thatcher was able to restore Britain's position in the world, bring its economy back from the brink of disaster, and play a substantial role in the collapse of communism. While some of the interview material with various Britains is of limited interest, the book offers a real feel for Thatcher while requiring only a modest commitment of time. Overall, well worth reading.
A well written book. Product of an extensive research, very interesting. Dr.Berlinski not just gives you a brief idea but puts you right on spot in pre-Maggie Britain, her rise to power, her cabinet, miner strikes and so on. More than just personal accounts of people who worked with and against Mrs.Thatcher.To understand Thatcherism, revitalization of Britain and the future of conservatism, definitely a must read.
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