Britain in the 1930s

The Letters and Diaries of Harold Nicholson (1930-1939. published by Collins (1966), NZ price 43/6, came as a complete surprise to me.

I'd never heard of Nicholson, nor known much about the "inside" of politics in Britain during the 1930s. This book gave me an exciting and intimate glance at the men who decided policy in Britain, Europe and the United States: and also pieced together events that led up to Munich and the Second World War.

Nicholson left the Foreign Office in 1929 and went to work as a highly paid social columnist for Beaverbrook's Evening Standard. Prom the beginning of 1930 he kept a daily diary and recorded in it persona! and political events and insights into the people he met.

These included every prominent person in British politics and literature, and proceeds through Nicholson's association with Mosley's fascist party, his novel-writing, his still respected publications on diplomacy and modern history, his life as an MP from 1935 and his association with the Eden and Churchill groups before and after Munich.

A valuable book to be read by all who want an insight into pre-war policy-making and by those who are interested in the personalities of the people who make decisions.