Margaret Thatcher: The Great Speeches (Spoken Word)

I wasn't sure if this book of speeches was intended to be the third of a three-volume set of Margaret Thatcher's autobiography. I bought it, having worked in Parliament during her time and having taken a degree in the field. But as I re-read the speeches, they were often far less remarkable in print than I remember (those which I do remember, that is). And as for speeches delivered on the floor of the House of Commons, there is no way any verbatim transcript can convey the mood and atmosphere of the House -- Hansard recounting was often dry and dull when what I would remember would be uproarious.

I found myself actually longing for a bulleted-point summary of each speech so that I could more easily find the important bits. The life Thatcher is able to give to her words fall flat on a printed page removed in time from the events surounding the speeches.

This book will be invaluable to that very small number who make a special study of political communications. I cannot imagine this book being of any wider interest, as the interesting bits will be found in the more interesting biographical volumes. I've not noticed this volume being remaindered to a large extent, which means the publishing house which miscalculated the demand for Thatcher's second volume 'The Path to Power' realised the blunder in time to make this volume remain an expensive one to be had.

Please do not misunderstand me in this appraisal. Thatcher is a brilliant speaker. However, few politicians are gifted with circumstances that lend themselves to timeless speeches; the relatively few instances where the actually speeches will be relevant for the overall history of Thatcher's period have those necessary pieces already incorporated into the other history texts.


beyond admirable and impressive; often BREATHTAKINGLY MOVING   May 24, 2003
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

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First published in 1997, gathers fifty-nine of the Iron Lady's speeches, from her years as leader of the opposition, to her years as prime minister, to the time she stepped down in 1990, and through 1996.

Edited by Robin Harris, her trusted aide and adviser, a member of the prime minister's Policy Unit, director of the the Conservative Research Department, and a regular contributor to British, European and American publications. Neither the brief introductions to each speech nor the footnotes are ever verbose--providing backgrounds which only help in setting out its context.

Divided into The Opposition Years, The First Parliament, The Second Parliament, The Third Parliament, and After Downing Street, it is a most impressive selection from among Lady Thatcher's vast collection of speeches hitherto--the ones marking the most dramatic events of her time (the party conferences in opposition, the brief statement as she entered 10 Downing Street, after the IRA bombing, amid the Falklands crisis, the Libya debate, the Gulf Crisis, and the speeches to The European Union and The House of Lords)--intensely revealing her character and unshakeable beliefs.

Whether in admiration of Margaret Thatcher, or from a desire to study The Tories, or Britain, or great speeches, this is one book deserving of a place in one's study.
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beyond admirable and impressive; often BREATHTAKINGLY MOVING   May 11, 2003
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

First published in 1997, and after the tremendous success of her memoirs "The Downing Street Years" and "The Path to Power", gathers fifty-nine of the Iron Lady's speeches, from her years as leader of the opposition, to her years as prime minister, to the time she stepped down in 1990, and through 1996.

Edited by Robin Harris, her trusted aide and adviser, a member of the prime minister's Policy Unit, director of the the Conservative Research Department, and a regular contributor to British, European and American publications. Neither the brief introductions to each speech nor the footnotes are ever verbose--providing backgrounds which only help in setting out its context.

Divided into The Opposition Years, The First Parliament, The Second Parliament, The Third Parliament, and After Downing Street, it is a most impressive selection from among Lady Thatcher's vast collection of speeches hitherto--the ones marking the most dramatic events of her time (the party conferences in opposition, the brief statement as she entered 10 Downing Street, after the IRA bombing in Brighton, amid the Falklands crisis, the Libya debate, the Gulf Crisis, and the speeches to The European Union and The House of Lords)--intensely revealing her character and unshakeable beliefs.

The impression one gets is of one who is not merely stubborn--she passionately stands on her principles, unwavering in the face of even the most vehement opposition, and never shy to explain WHY. One who, whether in opposition, in power or after, did not merely go where the wind was already blowing--she moulded the Conservative Party to her convictions, inspired even the initially-oblivious, convinced the sceptical, led the opposed, woke Britain from its self-doubt and decline, leading it to a renewed role in international affairs that lives to this day. And while she is said to have put intense effort into the drafting and polishing of each of her speeches, it is the genuine belief she had in, and her thorough mastery of every subject she spoke of or against (whether it was the Conservative Party, or Britain, or European affairs, or the partnership with America) that renders each speech most effective, if not at times breathtakingly moving.

Whether in admiration of Margaret Thatcher, or from a desire to study The Tories, or Britain, or great speeches, this is one book deserving of a place in one's study.
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Superb Record of a Superb Speaker.   January 11, 2000
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Having read the Downing Street Years, this volume of Margaret Thatcher's speeches is a great collection of her official statements covering her election to Parliament to her Premiership and finally her dramatic downfall eleven and a half years later.

It is excellent as a researcher's guide to the politics of the 1980's, or just for the keen follower of Conservative politics. Covering a wide range of topics, it an exciting read and makes a companion volume to her memoirs. Most of her statements on the Argentine invasion were made in the Commons and so they make great reading in an historic setting. Always one for putting her views across in a forthright and eloquent manner this book takes the reader from the struggle of Opposition, to the defining of ideology with the many successes in between.

Harris wisely included the Bruges Speech made in 1988 which left a very strong impression on the Conservative Party and left no one in any doubt as to her position on Europe.

One of the reasons why Thatcher remained so popular with the party members must be her speeches at party conferences, these are all included to get an insight into the progress of events and policy. Her use of language, as shown by so many of her speeches reproduced in this volume, is first rate and compelled the electorate, party and MP's to keep her in the leadership of party and country for so long.

One of the great Parliamentary speakers of the age an excellent addition to any political bookshelf.