Recommendations from our site
“Bagehot was the first person to try to explain the recent evolution of the non-political, constitutional monarchy—what I sometimes call the ‘sentimental monarchy’ because of the part played by Queen Victoria and her promotion of respectable, family life. One hundred years before Bagehot, the monarchy was embroiled in all sorts of political conflicts and personal scandals. Victoria changed that with a style and with instincts that were remarkably close to those of Queen Elizabeth II. Both women displayed the same sense of duty and willingness to subordinate themselves.” Read more...
Robert Lacey, Biographer
“Before I went into the House of Lords, I used to write ‘Bagehot’, The Economist’s weekly column on British politics. I am therefore biased when I recommend, as the finest book on the subject ever written, The English Constitution by Walter Bagehot, a Victorian editor of the magazine. Of course, it is a bit quaint now from the title on: if you talked of the English constitution in Glasgow or Cardiff you would be strung from a lamp-post. But though the subject has moved on, some of Walter’s concepts are eternally useful. The ‘dignified’ bit of the constitution then referred to the monarchy and the ‘efficient’ bit to parliament. Today it is parliament that is largely dignified, the efficient bit being the leader columns of The Sun and the Daily Mail. What, however, has not dated at all is the style and the verve: a great journalist in action as well as a great brain and today insufficiently read.” Read more...
The best books on British Politics
David Lipsey, Politician
Nobody has ever been sure of the difference between England and Britain, for instance – or rather, the two have been used interchangeably and confusedly for generations. Walter Bagehot’s famous book was called The English Constitution, even though it was about all of the United Kingdom.
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