The collection showcases Seamus Heaney's extensive correspondence, revealing his personality and insights through letters and postcards to friends, poets, and admirers. Selected fragments highlight his thoughtful responses and the connections he maintained with various individuals, providing a glimpse into his life and the relationships that shaped his work.
Tony Blairs Cabinet Papers, 1997 Volume One, Devolution in Scotland and Wales
The book focuses on the significant legislative changes initiated by Tony Blair's New Labour following their 1987 electoral victory, particularly the devolution of powers to Scotland and Wales. It presents newly released cabinet papers detailing this initiative, complemented by brief commentaries from Peter Raina. This volume specifically addresses the implications and discussions surrounding devolution in these regions, providing insights into the government's strategies and motivations during this transformative period in UK politics.
Tony Blairs Cabinet Papers, 1997 Volume Two, The Representative Government in Northern Ireland
The documentation offers a deep exploration of the political strategies and calculations behind a significant achievement of the era. It presents a meticulously curated collection that delves into the origins and development of this milestone, emphasizing its lasting importance and relevance in political discourse.
The Files of the British Intelligence Service MI5
The book offers a unique insight into Doris Lessing's political life through the reproduction of secret files. It explores her disillusionment with communism, as she sought a deeper understanding of human relations beyond Soviet clichés. Raina highlights how Lessing's activism and the opposition it provoked enriched her perspective, revealing the complexities of her beliefs and experiences.
The study offers a vibrant portrayal of "Dadie" Rylands, a notable figure in academia and theatre during the twentieth century. It features previously unpublished radio talks that showcase his clarity and insight, alongside a collection of letters that highlight his extensive correspondence. This combination of audio and written materials provides a rich exploration of Rylands' impact and legacy in his fields.
Introduced and translated into English rhyming verse
Heinrich Von Kleist's poetry, a contemporary of Goethe and Schiller, is presented in modern English rhyming verse by Peter Raina, making it accessible to a new audience. This collection highlights Kleist's literary significance and offers insights into his unique voice, inviting English speakers to explore his work and appreciate his contributions to literature.
Presenting hitherto unpublished letters and papers which vividly evoke the contemporary Oxford scene, Peter Raina traces the many and diverse talents of this notable college figure. John Sparrow may have been a generalist, but he dabbled in depth in many disciplines and is deserving of this analysis.
The 7th Earl Beauchamp was a prominent figure in English public life in the years 1900-30, but his career ended in scandal. He was barred from English soil, lost his reputation and his papers were withheld from public view. Now, through documents never before released, Peter Raina gives us an opportunity to reassess the man.
The 1960s are explored in this volume, highlighting reform efforts for the House of Lords during the Macmillan-Wilson era, supported by newly released documents. It details the challenges faced, including a civil servant's view of reform as a 'mission impossible.' A pivotal moment occurs when Tony Benn disclaims his inherited peerage, sparking a renewed commitment to address longstanding issues. The Peerages Act of 1963 emerges as a significant development, granting peers the option to disclaim and ensuring equal rights for Scottish and female inheritors in the Upper House.
At the height of the Second World War, Hitler’s Deputy, Rudolf Hess, made a dramatic solo flight to the British Isles. His arrival there was sensational news – and it baffled everyone. Why had he come? Hess claimed he had flown to Britain entirely of his own initiative and was on a personal mission of peace. But so unlikely was the success of such an appeal in Churchill’s entrenched Britain that historians continue to wonder at his motives. In this book, Peter Raina publishes, for the first time, complete texts of Hess’s ‘peace proposals’ and a treatise he wrote in captivity outlining how he saw Nazi Germany’s role in Europe. These texts throw considerable light on Hess’s mission and also on how the Nazi leadership saw their programme of expansion and their relations with Britain. Disconcertingly single-minded and an unashamed disciple of Hitler, Hess was at heart an idealist. His friend and confidant Albrecht Haushofer was an idealist of a different kind, and joined the German Resistance Movement. The frame story of this book relates how the two men moved to their tragic ends.