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Britain Alone
- The Path from Suez to Brexit
- Narrated by: Sean Barrett
- Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins
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Britain Alone
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Summary
In 1962 the American statesman Dean Acheson famously charged that Britain had lost an empire and failed to find a new role. Nearly 60 years later, the rebuke rings true again. Britain's postwar search for its place in the world has vexed prime ministers and government since the nation's great victory in 1945: the cost of winning the war was giving up the empire.
After the humiliation of Anthony Eden's Suez expedition, Britain seemed for a time to have found an answer. Clinging to its self-image as a great island nation, it would serve as America's best friend while acknowledging its geography by signing up to membership of the European Union. Never a comfortable balancing act, for 40 years it appeared to work. In 2016 David Cameron called the Brexit referendum and blew it up.
Award-winning journalist Philip Stephens paints a fascinating portrait of a nation struggling to reconcile its waning power with past glory. Drawing on decades of personal contact and interviews with senior politicians and diplomats in Britain, the United States and across the capitals of Europe, Britain Alone is a vivid account of a proud nation struggling to admit it is no longer a great power. It is an indispensable guide to how we arrived at the state we are in.
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What listeners say about Britain Alone
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 29-05-22
Brexit was a grave mistake!!
This book shows quite clearly that Brexit has left Britain much weaker.
It may also become the catalyst for the eventual breakup of the United Kingdom. Boris Johnson does not have much to be proud of.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ian Henderson
- 16-09-21
Interesting Subject, poor narration.
Although the content is very interesting the narration is a little 'sleepy' not slow it is paced well but the narrator seems as if he is reading late at night so not to wake anyone up.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Malcolm
- 22-04-22
I love Sean Barrett’s narration
A fascinating insight into the decline of good old Blighty. It is a valuable point of reference who still seek the reasons for Brexit.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- julian stubbs
- 27-12-22
Very entertaining and all now coming true - very correct!
A book that puts the disaster of Brexit and what lies behind it in true context.
As the UK goes into chaotic melt down the true cost of Brexit is coming into plain view.
This book puts the Brexiteers true motives into context and what really lies at the heart of the issue. Until Britain comes to terms with its past and moves on it will never escape this issue that drags it backwards.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- C. Smith
- 22-09-21
Brexit in context
For those such as myself who have always found the Brexit vote inexplicable, this is the first book I’ve read that puts it into context by placing it in the post war history of the country’s ruling party. Despite Heath, Major and Cameron, the forces that delivered Suez never went away. They simply regrouped to exploit the resentment of those who felt excluded from power, influence or wealth. An informative, yet digestible read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Rossano Nocera
- 09-10-21
Superb telling of Britain’s inexorable isolation from Europe
Told with flair and lots of historical anecdotes interwoven into an overarching narrative that is balanced and fair.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Stan
- 10-02-24
British Delusions!
Extraordinary historical overview of a British mentality from the Suez Crisis to Brexit! Absolute joy to listen to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Andy
- 05-02-24
What have they done?!
Shocking but very interesting story of how foolish we have been for so long.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Brian Murgatroyd
- 28-10-21
Absolutely outstanding
This puts Brexit into the context of 60 years prior to the vote of 2016 &, time & while listening to it, the litany of bungling, un-thought out decisions & incompetence made me want to cover my eyes & ears time & again. This is a superb listen.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-01-22
Excellent, but repetitive at points.
if you're a brexit fan and don't want anything to question your brexit vote, this will be uncomfortable (but essential) reading.
The history lesson is informative, if depressing.
The saddest thing to realise is just how closed UK right wing thinking currently is. More disasters await us; and that makes a must read.
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3 people found this helpful