Historical stint in a book of speeches
Thatcher’s political legacy captured in book
In historical chronicles one gets to come across a plethora of influential political figures who have quintessentially contributed to the making and shaping of the path of history and how subsequent events tend to depend on what had been done by them during their tenure.
Recorded history, whether written by biographers of these politicians, official documentation maintained by formal authorities for future generations or other references could duly enable the keen inquirer wanting to find out about specific eminent figures who have had pivotal roles in their countries’ affairs and that of the world at large.
Influence
Upon searching for few examples which have had lasting influence on historical events even until our present day especially in the Western Hemisphere a writer/politician whose life started as an impoverished aristocrat seeking means to secure income through writing finally culminated in concentrating his efforts on wartime management that brought triumph to his country after a long and arduous struggle. Winston Churchill (18741965), known as a writer of many important books, winner of Nobel Prize in literature in 1953 whose contribution in politics became as important as his literary legacy if not more.
His speeches pertaining to war are compiled and examined and even studied by scholars to understand the times and conditions they were written in.
Peter Clarke, formerly Professor of Modern British History at Cambridge University has probed Churchill’s writing career in his book titled “Mr. Churchill’s Profession”. As for his speeches, Churchill’s grandson has collected and chosen from his grandfather’s complete speeches with introductory notes including the very first until his last and was published in a book titled “Never Give In”.
Activist
Another historically and politically important personality in the Eastern Hemisphere is Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), an Indian lawyer and activist who led his country through peaceful road to independence and was an inspiring force to many nonviolence movements worldwide. Gandhi’s speeches are also collected in books and are available online which depict important historical events revolving around him as one of the most charismatic leaders and skillful orators in modern history.
A book titled “Gandhi: 5 Speeches that Changed the World” by Philip Dossick is one of many books that cover this eminent leader’s political legacy. His speeches could be accessed on http://www.mkgandhi.org/speeches/qui.htm. Reading sections from the complete speeches on this Web site certainly convey the spirit of the time and the authenticity of the speaker’s drive to free his fellow men and women peacefully.
Along the same tide of inspiring historical speeches and forceful stances adopted by influential statesmen that pepper the world we live in, a female iron politician has passed away few days ago leaving a vast political legacy that would be probed and examined for many generations in the future.
Margaret Hilda Thatcher (19252013) — whether liked or disliked — it would not be possible to overlook or ignore her influence on her country and the world. Her post as a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 until 1990 was the longest of the 20th century and more importantly the only woman ever to have held that position in her country. She was a research chemist then studied law. She was elected member of parliament in 1959, then Secretary of State for Education and Science. She won three successive General Elections and served as Prime Minister for more than eleven years.
Contribution
Historical records about Thatcher’s contributions during her years in her last post focused upon deregulation, flexible labour markets, privatisation of state-owned companies which are among many more. She resigned as prime minister and party leader in November 1990. Thatcher was among influential political lead- ers who had played pivotal roles in the liberation of Kuwait. This is yet another significant phase in this political leader’s career that could be probed by readers interested in this area as her firm stances firmly contributed towards the just cause of a peaceful nation struggling for its just and rightful cause. In a book titled “Margaret Thatcher: The Collected Speeches” edited by Robin Harris, it includes many speeches that Thatcher has delivered during her political career that still influence her country and nations afield.
The book is divided into The Opposition Years, The First Parliament, The Second Parliament, The Third Parliament and After Downing Street. Robin Harris and John O’Sullivan have written a political biography covering Thatcher’s premiership titled “Undefeated”. Her memoirs was written by Harris and published in a book titled “The Downing Street Years”. Harris also assisted her in writing her book titled “Statecraft: Strategies for a Changing World” published in 2003. The Web site http://www.margaretthatcher.org/ is a resourceful online reference with detailed information for interested readers.
In conclusion, the domain of politics seems to be a complex and confusing field yet it tends to directly affect ordinary people, their families and their basic daily livelihoods. In attempts to understand the politicians’ policies and strategies one could resort to reading biographies written by talented writers and scholars or maybe search in formal governmental documentation about them and surely their compiled speeches which some books provide us with could help us form portraits in our minds about those statesmen who have influenced and duly shaped the world we live in.