State of Emergency
The Way We Were: Britain, 1970-1974
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State of Emergency
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Narrated by:
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David Thorpe
About this listen
In the early 1970s, Britain seemed to be tottering on the brink of the abyss. Under Edward Heath, the optimism of the Sixties had become a distant memory. Now the headlines were dominated by strikes and blackouts, unemployment and inflation. As the world looked on in horrified fascination, Britain seemed to be tearing itself apart. And yet, amid the gloom, glittered a creativity and cultural dynamism that would influence our lives long after the nightmarish Seventies had been forgotten. Dominic Sandbrook has recreated the gaudy, schizophrenic atmosphere of the early Seventies: the world of Enoch Powell and Tony Benn, David Bowie and Brian Clough, Germaine Greer and Mary Whitehouse.
An age when the unions were on the march and the socialist revolution seemed at hand, but also when feminism, permissiveness, pornography and environmentalism were transforming the lives of millions. It was an age of miners’ strikes, tower blocks and IRA atrocities, but it also gave us celebrity footballers and high-street curry houses, organic foods and package holidays, gay rights and glam rock. For those who remember the days when you could buy a new colour television but power cuts stopped you from watching it, this book could hardly be more vivid. It is the perfect guide to a luridly colourful Seventies landscape that shaped our present from the financial boardroom to the suburban bedroom.
Dominic Sandbrook was born in Shropshire in 1974, an indirect result of the Heath government's three-day week giving couples more leisure time. He is now a prolific reviewer and commentator, writing regularly for the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and Sunday Times. He is the author of two hugely acclaimed books on Britain in the Fifties and Sixties, Never Had It So Good and White Heat.
©2012 Dominic Sandbrook (P)2012 Audible LtdListeners also enjoyed...
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- J NEILL
- 13-04-13
A marvellous listen it was enthralling.
Dominic Sandbrook is a great talent. He does to political and social history what the Beevors, Holmes's and Hastings have done for military history. I walked away with a different understanding of my recent history and could see with clarity how much of what I perceived from the 70's was flawed due to my close proximity. There is no political addenda, no egg head leftist argument or right wing 're-assessment' Just excellently researched history. And with the recent death of Mrs Thatcher I'm the only one around the bar now who knows what he is talking about. I have a good political, social and economic understanding of what happened to get us to 1977.
I have just purchased Dominic Sandbrook's second volume and its just as good. If you like Question Time, read a good daily paper, know that very little is as simple as it looks and what to know the truth rather than an opinion get this. Its great.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- J. Chettleburgh
- 21-03-21
Great listen
If you are in your fifties, these are the things you were vaguely aware of, the things that grown ups talked about and filled the twilight zone between Magic Roundabout and mum calling you through for tea.
Brilliant, interesting and heartbreaking. Essential listening if you want to know why the UK is as it is today.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Nick Sheppard
- 21-06-16
Well read compelling story of Heath's Britain
A great narration of an interesting story that proves false some myths of a crazy time in Britain's history. The narrator's impersonations are surprisingly spot on and not cheesy. Recommended
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jan Phillips
- 16-04-20
Excellent listen
Having been born in the late fifties, I grew up in the sixties and seventies. I found this book thought provoking with a vast array of details I was not aware of at the time. David Thorpe is a superb narrator and his impersonations of the politicians and characters, whilst not an exact match, were excellent and fitted in beautifully with the narrative. On the strength of this book, I have purchased Seasons in the Sun , Who Dares Wins and The Great British Dream Factory. Wholeheartedly recommended.
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- mr j j craggy
- 23-04-20
Top history!
Brilliantly written. Brilliantly read. Covers a fascinating range of politics, culture and economics. Enjoyable throughout
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- Matt
- 03-07-24
Brilliant.
Just brilliant. Highly recommended, it was great to learn about such an interesting period, explained with incredible breadth and depth.
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- Hamburgerpatty
- 25-10-14
If you wonder why there was a Scottish referendum
Any additional comments?
Great fuss was made by the author of the World Cup of 1974 and the fact that England wisnae there. However, another home team was. That was, of course, Scotland. Not mentioned. However I would not let that small quibble ruin what was for me a totally engaging listen. Thank you Mr Sandbrook!
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1 person found this helpful
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- readnil
- 02-06-22
A 70's Horror Story Brilliantly Told & Read
I am old enough to have lived through this period but the ghastliness of inflation, Union domination etc still has the capacity to shock.
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- Mrs. Ann M. Mcmahon
- 25-04-21
State of Excitement
Rarely have the 1970s been described as exciting in recent years, but this excellent book reminds those of us who lived through those times just how 'exciting' - and sometimes tragic - the 1970s really were and how they paved the way for where we find ourselves today. And for those young enough not to have lived through those years this book provides a fascinating introduction.
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- Anonymous User
- 09-09-22
Detailed, clear and excellent!
An exhaustive explanation of a short but critical period. Covering not just political but social matters with fabulous depth and insight. If you want to understand why we are the way we are today….. read this book.
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