Edward Heath

Sir Edward Heath KG MBE MP (1916–2005) was one of the most influential and controversial British politicians—and one of the most elusive and enigmatic personalities—of the post-war era. He was the first leader of the Conservative Party to be formally elected by the party's MPs, rather than "emerging;" and the party's first ever leader from a working-class background. His time as prime minister (1970–74) was marked by industrial unrest, an upsurge in violence in Northern Ireland, and severe economic turbulence, exacerbated by a world oil crisis. He was responsible for taking the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community (now the European Union). And after Margaret Thatcher deposed him as Conservative leader in 1975, his bitter public feud with her lasted for a quarter of a century. There have been several biographies of Heath, plus his own award-winning memoirs, The Course of My Life, but none has fully revealed the essence of the man. This book from Heath's one-time political secretary, Michael McManus, will draw together a remarkable collection of first-hand accounts of Sir Edward's personal and political lives, from those who worked most closely with him and knew him best.