The Five Giants: A Biography of the Welfare State

摘要: An accessible and entertaining narrative history of the establishment, development unravelling British Welfare State - now fully revised to cover Blair's first term. Lively writing in style Peter Hennessy. 'Giant Want. Giant Disease. Ignorance. Squalor. And insidious Idleness, "which destroys wealth corrupts men". These were evils be vanquished by postwar reconstruction Britain. Timmins' book recaptures brilliantly high hopes period which began created, conveys cranky zeal its inventor, William Beveridge. The onslaught on five Giants was work gargantuan programmes that made up core Beveridge's State. social security, health, education, housing a policy full employment. It is notoriously difficult write about such subjects keep reader reading, but Timmins performs wonders clarity, anecdote human detail finds chosen level somewhere between Gibbon's 'Decline Fall Roman Empire' '1066 All That'...There something very moving his rhetoric transformation 'The Five Giants' will stir strong emotions. impossible not respond personal terms part so many our histories, woven into day-to-day texture lives.' Fiona MacCarthy, Observer Beveridge originally only supposed sort out web insurance services stifling recounts how original vision campaign blossomed enormously inspire country at war with hope peace might bring comfort security for all. tale hums energies passions activists, dreamers ordinary Britons, seethes vendettas, forced compromises, arguments money, awkward contradictions, noisy rows fervent perseverance. Nicholas Timmins, who has seen works every day last two decades, assesses key personalities, problems, victories defeats anecdotal, witty illuminating study from 1940s present day.