Kevin Jefferys Books

When asked about the greatest difficulty of being Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan famously replied 'events, dear boy, events.' Kevin Jeffery's authoritative and entertaining book is about the key events in British politics since the Second World War, how those moments influenced the years that followed them and what Britain might have been like had they not occurred. Finest and Darkest Hours ranges from Winston Churchill's accession to the premiership in 1940 through to the emergence of New Labour in 1994 - via the Suez fiasco, the Profumo affair, the three-day week, the winter of discontent, the Falklands war and Black Wednesday - to identify precisely just how significant these episodes really were. Finest and Darkest Hours combines vivid character portraits with subtle, often highly revisionist, analysis of the unfolding crises. It is a contentious, illuminating and vigorously enjoyable account of British post-war history.

World War II marked a crucial watershed in the political history of modern Britain. This book seeks to explain, through the eyes of contemporaries, how the transition occurred from the Conservative enterprise society of the 1930s to Labour's welfare state and mixed economy of the late 1940s. War and Reform also addresses the question of how the political changes of this period affected British society as a whole and how much public opinion itself shaped change.

Focusing on the significant societal transformations initiated by the Labour Government in 1945, the book examines the pivotal changes in British society during this period. It delves into the internal debates within the Labour party regarding their goals and the most effective strategies to realize them, providing insights into the political landscape and ideological struggles of the time.

Beyond SW19 showcases the variety and high quality of tennis, often featuring the world's best players, that has taken place in Britain at venues other than Wimbledon. Spanning the history of the sport from the 1880s to the present day, Kevin Jefferys examines the fluctuating fortunes of tournaments including Queen's, Eastbourne and Edgbaston.

In this informative biography of Britain's most successful tennis player, historian Kevin Jefferys brings to life Fred Perry's strong personality and casts fresh light on why - despite his status as world number one in the 1930s - full acceptance of Perry among the British tennis authorities remained elusive until long after he retired.

In this first comprehensive account of Britain's place in world tennis from the 1880s to the present day, historian Kevin Jefferys shows that - contrary to popular perception - Britain has a surprisingly strong record. He examines the nation's fluctuating tennis fortunes and presents his personal selection of the best British players of all time.