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A WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024

A century ago, a Labour government took power for the first time. Meet the “Wild Men” who led the way…

‘Superb’ — New Statesman
‘Fascinating’ — The Sunday Times.

In 1923, the passing of the Act which gave all men the vote opened the door for a radically different sort of government: men from working-class backgrounds who had never before occupied the corridors of power at Westminster. Who were these ‘wild men’? Ramsay MacDonald, their leader and Labour’s first Prime Minster, was the illegitimate son of a Scottish farm labourer; Arthur Henderson was a Scottish iron moulder; J. H. Thomas, a Welsh railwayman; John Wheatley, an Irish-born miner and publican; and William Adamson, a Fife coal miner.

The Wild Men – this new edition with a fully updated preface – tells the story of that first Labour administration – its unexpected birth, fraught existence, and controversial downfall – through the eyes of those who found themselves in the House of Commons, running the country for the people. Blending biography and history into a compelling narrative, David Torrance reassesses the UK’s first Labour government a century after it shook up a British establishment still reeling from the War – and how the establishment eventually fought back.

This is an extraordinary period in British political history which echoes down the years to our current politics and laid the foundations for the Britain of today.

Publisher Review

[Keir Starmer] could do worse than read this book to ponder what history can teach. * The Economist * Thoroughly researched… The Wild Men brings superbly to life figures whom history should not have forgotten. — Simon Heffer * The Daily Telegraph * A highly readable, enjoyable and informative book. — John McTernan * Financial Times * A meticulously researched collective biography. — Andrew Marr * New Statesman * Excellent — Leo McKinstry * Daily Express * Superb — Robert Hardman * The Spectator * An engrossing account of the perilous course charted by Ramsay MacDonald… David Torrance illuminates all of this brilliantly. — Alan Johnson * Guardian * Torrance tells an absorbing, meticulous and balanced story. — Chris Mullin * The Spectator * Torrance tells the story of each of this engrossing era’s main principals in a series of crisp, meticulously researched chapters. It was a fascinating period, and this is a timely, even racy account. — Roger Alton * Mail on Sunday * David Torrance’s lucid account, The Wild Men, tells a lot of the story through a series of well-crafted and elegantly written mini-biographies of the leading players, a good device for navigating a turbulent period of complex events and issues. — Andrew Rawnsley * Observer * In The Wild Men David Torrance, a biographer and clerk at the House of Commons, tells the story of MacDonald’s rise and the first Labour government, its people, policies and purpose, with sympathy and fastidious attention to detail. His reading and research are exemplary…. [A] fascinating portrait. — Jason Cowley * The Sunday Times * Lively, interesting [and] based on an impressive amount of archival research. A highly readable guide to a landmark historical episode. * Richard Toye, author of Age of Hope: Labour, 1945, and the Birth of Modern Britain. * With meticulous reconstruction and careful judgement, this is a fascinating piece of work with some intriguing parallels for our own times. * Peter Hennessy * Torrance’s book is (and I don’t think I have ever described a political history book in these words) riveting. It is a joy to read; it is highly illuminating; it is – to me – a revelation. * NetGalley review * Deeply researched. * Socialist Worker * A timely reappraisal of a momentous period in British politics. * The Herald * Tightly focussed… even-handed… [an] in-depth study. * History Today * An accessible, entertaining and well-researched history… It is a welcome study of a period that should be better known. A collection of rich portraits of the leading figures of the government … Torrance has skilfully brought the history of the first Labour government alive. * Literary Review * Admirable, thoroughly researched and very readable account… Torrance offers rich character sketches and takes us through the often difficult history of the government with exemplary skill. — Allan Massie * The Scotsman * An insightful, analytical study…. Torrance has conducted some superb and dogged research into previously overlooked archives. — Ian Cawood * Times Literary Supplement * Rooted in robust research, David Torrance’s new book casts fresh light on Britain’s first Labour government. — Baroness O’Grady * The House * Much to inform and delight… the book is framed as a series of portraits of the main players and reflects much detailed new research. It is well written, easy to read and will prove an important historical resource. — Julia Langdon * The Tablet * Authoritative…A compelling account of the first Labour administration. — Jim Wilson * Sunday Post * A fine historical prompt…There is much that [Keir Starmer] – and we – can learn from [the first Labour government]. * Prospect * The great strength of the work lies in the biographical studies of “The Wild Men” themselves, especially the chapters devoted to the Prime Minister. * The Critic * Torrance…makes excellent use of material from the Royal Archives. * London Review of Books * The Wild Men does a good job of shedding light on a key turning point in British political history, while small details such as the attempt to get ministers to continue appearing before the king in “gold embroidered coat, cocked hat and sword” remind us how hidebound parts of the politics system still were. * MoneyWeek * Excellent. * David Osland, Labour Hub *