The Impossible Office?: The History of the British Prime Minister - Revised and Updated

A Times and Sunday Times Book of the Year. The recent political chaos enfolding Downing Street provides the framing for the extraordinary story of the office of Prime Minister, and how and why it has endured longer than any other democratic political office in world history. Sir Anthony Seldon, historian of Number 10, explores the lives and careers, crises and scandals, and successes and failures of our great Prime Ministers from Robert Walpole to Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher, up to the recent churn of Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. Seldon discusses which of our PMs have been most effective and why, as well as probing the changing relationship between the Monarchy and the Prime Minister in intimate detail. A celebration of the humanity, frailty, work and achievements of 57 remarkable individuals who averted revolution and civil war, leading the country through times of peace, crisis and war.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Note on the revised edition; 1. The 300th Anniversary Bookend Prime Ministers: Walpole and Johnson; 2. A Country Transformed, 1721–2024; 3. The Liminal Premiership: From the Saxons to 1806; 4. The Transformational Prime Ministers, 1806–2024; 5. The Powers and Resources of the Prime Minister, 1721–2024; 6. The Constraints on the Prime Minister, 1721–2024; 7. The Eclipse of the Monarchy, 1660–2024; 8. The Rise and Fall of the Foreign Secretary, 1782–2024; 9. The Rise, and Rise, of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1660–2024; 10. The Impossible Office? The Prime Minister by 2024.

About the Author :
Sir Anthony Seldon is the acknowledged national authority on all matters to do with Number 10 and prime ministers. His first book on a prime minister, Churchill's Indian Summer: The Conservative Government, 1951–55 (1981), was published forty years ago, and since then he has written or edited many books, including the definitive insider accounts of the last six prime ministers. He has been the honorary historian at Number 10 Downing Street, chair of the National Archives Trust, and has interviewed virtually all senior figures who have worked in Number 10 in the last fifty years. His BBC Radio 4 series 'The Prime Minister at 300' was broadcast on the 300th anniversary of the office in April 2021. Jonathan Meakin was educated at Royal Holloway, University of London and at the University of St Andrews. He has had a lifelong interest in history. He has worked on many publications with Anthony Seldon, including Cameron at 10 and The Cabinet Office, (1916–2016). Illias Thoms has worked with Anthony Seldon for over ten years and this is their fourth book together, including Cameron at 10 and Brown at 10. He graduated from Balliol College, Oxford with a degree in history and politics in 2014 and works as an assistant director in the UK film and television industries. Tom Egerton has worked with Anthony Seldon on various publications, including Johnson at 10. He is the Editor and founder of The Political Inquiry and was educated in history and politics at the University of Warwick.

Review :
'A tremendous, magisterial book, informed and underpinned by brilliant historical and political insight. A triumph.' William Boyd, Author of Trio, Restless and Any Human Heart ' A brilliant, panoramic survey … By the end of this book, you will feel you know many of the holders of the office of prime minister intimately … A must read.' Andrew Adonis, Former Transport Minister, Education Minister and Head of No. 10 Policy Unit, and Author of Ernest Bevin, Labour's Churchill '… an intelligent and insightful account of the evolution of the role of prime minister.' Andrew Rawnsley, The Observer (Book of the Week) 'We need some answers, and Anthony Seldon is one of the few prime ministerial biographers to seek to provide them. He does so insightfully and mischievously …' Steve Richards, Literary Review '… enriches our understanding of what it takes to run Britain, with some intriguing ideas for improving the Premiership.' Camilla Cavendish, Former Head of No. 10 Policy Unit, and Author of Extra Time: Ten Lessons for Living Longer Better 'Three hundred years of one of the world's most difficult jobs is worth some reflection - and there is no better way to go about that than to read this excellent book.' William Hague, Former Leader of the Opposition, First Secretary of State, Foreign Secretary, and Leader of the House of Commons 'A fascinating review of the role of the prime minister and those who have filled it … how did they change the role, and how did it change them and the country.' Jacqui Smith, Former Home Secretary