Author:Paul Addison
The Road to 1945 is a rigorously researched study of the crucial moment when political parties put aside their differences to unite under Churchill and focus on the task of war. But the war years witnessed a radical shift in political power - dramatically expressed in Labour's decisive electoral victory in 1945.
In his acclaimed study, Paul Addison reconstructs and interprets the five-year wartime coalition, and traces this sea-change from its roots in the thirties, to the powerful spirit of post-war rebuilding.
The Road to 1945 is an imaginative, brilliantly written and landmark work, underpinned by a powerful and expertly researched argument.
'The best and most comprehensive account of British politics immediately before, during, and immediately after the Second World War
—— GuardianWhat I find most striking is the beauty of his prose, the force of his argument, and the awesome and painstaking research that underpins it. Although I still do not agree with him, it is one hell of an achievement, and one that has not been matched since
—— Harriet Jones , Times Education SupplementThis is a landmark in the writing of contemporary history and deserves wide acclaim
—— Times Literary SupplementMany books have been written about the Home Front. Few have dealt with the development of policies at the top. Addison's book fills the gap magnificently. It tells with wit, scholarship and imagination how the British people entered the Promised Land - or seemed to
—— A.J.P. Taylor , ObserverThis is a brilliant book. It is probably the most intelligent monograph on a recent period of British politics
—— John Vincet , New SocietyEuropean scientists for centuries served the political goals of empire building, which was based on slave trading, military power, oppression and violence . . . Poskett hopes for a future where the historic truth about how scientific progress has been made is universally accepted, where all cultures are valued, and where global scientific collaboration unleashes the creativity to solve problems such as climate change
—— Sean Duke , Irish TimesHorizons shows that the story of science has always been a planetary one: a non-linear process of cross-fertilisation, competition, cooperation and conflict . . . What makes the book so engrossing is that Poskett's grasp of historical contexts is as firm as his scientific knowledge
—— Matthew d'Ancona , TortoiseGeneration after generation, people in western countries have been educated to believe that the history of modern science began primarily in the 17th century in western Europe. In a book of breathtaking range and high quality, Poskett dismantles that narrow version of events and produces a genuinely global history
—— Best Summer Books of 2022: History' , Financial TimesThis treasure trove of a book puts the case persuasively and compellingly that modern science did not develop solely in Europe. Hugely important
—— Jim Al-Khalili, author of ParadoxBrilliant . . . In this revolutionary and revelatory book, James Poskett not only gives us a truly worldwide history of science, but explains how international connections have stimulated scientific advances through time
—— Alice Roberts, author of AncestorsScience's internationalism is well recognized. But scientists tend to regard it as a recent phenomenon that arose from the 'big science' of the twentieth century, rather than one with a history of more than 500 years going back to the Islamic science that inspired astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, and beyond, observes historian James Poskett. His revisionary "global history" boldly rebuts this
—— Andrew Robinson , NaturePoskett's book is invaluable, an important and timely reminder that the world we live in has never been small or unknown, but that sharing knowledge, as well as credit, and working together, is the key to a better future
—— Matt Lewis , History HitFrom palatial Aztec botanic gardens to Qing Dynasty evolutionary theories, Horizons upends traditional accounts of the history of science, showing how curiosity and intellectual exploration was, and is, a global phenomenon
—— Rebecca Wragg Sykes, author of KindredRemarkable. Challenges almost everything we know about science in the West
—— Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in 12 MapsThis perspective-shattering book challenges our Eurocentric narrative by spotlighting the work of historically neglected scientists
—— Caroline Sanderson , The Bookseller, 'Editor's Choice'A useful corrective that brings us closer to a more accurate history of Western science - one which recognises Europe, not as exceptional, but as learning from the world
—— Angela Saini, author of SuperiorThe righting of the historical record makes Horizons a deeply satisfying read. We learn about a fascinating group of people engaged in scientific inquiry all over the world. Even more satisfyingly, Horizons demonstrates that the most famous scientists - Copernicus, Darwin and Einstein among them - couldn't have made their discoveries without the help of their global contacts
—— Valerie Hansen, author of The Year 1000A provocative examination of major contributions to science made outside Europe and the USA, from ancient to modern times, explained in relation to global historical events. I particularly enjoyed the stories of individuals whose work tends to be omitted from standard histories of science
—— Ian Stewart, author of Significant FiguresA wonderful, timely reminder that scientific advancement is, and has always been, a global endeavour
—— Patrick Roberts, author of JungleThis is the kind of history we need: it opens our eyes to the ways in which what we know today has been uncovered thanks to a worldwide team effort
—— Michael Scott, author of Ancient WorldsAn important milestone
—— British Journal for the History of Science, on Materials of the MindThe freshest history of the strangest science
—— Alison Bashford, author of Global Population, on Materials of the MindAmbitious, riveting, Poskett tracks the global in so many senses . . . vital reading on some of the most urgent concerns facing the world history of science
—— Sujit Sivasundaram, University of Cambridge, on Materials of the MindTerrific . . . [Makes] a substantial contribution to understanding the universalizing properties of science and technology in history
—— Janet Browne, Harvard University, on Materials of the MindHorizons forces me to think outside my Eurocentric box and puts science at the centre of world history
—— David Reynolds , New Statesman, Books of the Year 2022[Our Man is] heartfelt, virtuosic and quietly thoughtful at the same time
—— Daily TelegraphIsabel Wilkerson's book is a masterful narrative of the rich wisdom and deep courage of a great people. Don't miss it!
—— Cornel WestA landmark piece of non-fiction
—— The New York TimesA briliant and stirring epic
—— Wall Street JournalThe mass migration of African Americans out of the US south forever changed the country's cultural fabric - and Wilkerson's history of this period is full of sacrifice and hope ...a long overdue account
—— GuardianA deeply affecting, finely crafted and heroic book. . . .Wilkerson has taken on one of the most important demographic upheavals of the past century and told it through the lives of three people ... lyrical and tragic
—— Jill Lepore , New Yorker