Acknowledgements

 

I would particularly like to thank three people who gave me an early and lasting love of history, and of good writing: my mother, Valerie Marr, and two of my teachers at Loretto School, David Stock and Peter Lapping.

This book would not have happened had I not been badgered three years ago by Peter Horrocks, now the BBC’s head of television news, to write and present a television history of post-war Britain. It was his idea and I’m very grateful.

Despite a delay caused by a snapped tendon, the series was a delight to make, thanks to the wonderful team, led by Chris Granlund, the series producer, and Clive Edwards. The individual films were produced by Tom Giles, Fatima Solaria, Francis Whately and Robin Dashwood, filmed and recorded by Neil Harvey, Chris Hartley and Tim Watts, and researched by Charlotte Sacher, Jo Wade, Jo Dutton, Jay Mukoro, and Stuart Robertson. I would like to thank them all, and in the office, Rachel Bacon and Libby Hand.

The research for the book was done separately, and I take full responsibility for any mistakes I have made. That said, two people had a big influence, Philippa Harrison who hacked, shaped and re-ordered it and Peter Hennessy who, entirely out of kindness, read much of it for me and saved me from some horrible howlers.

I leaned heavily, as ever, on my wonderful agent Ed Victor, who has kept me going with gossip, suggestions, amusement and some excellent food on the way.

As with my earlier books, this owes a great debt to the London Library.

The team at Macmillan was headed by my editor Andrew Kidd, who has been endlessly patient and tolerant, and by Kate Harvey, with the excellent Jacqui Graham dealing with festivals and publicity. Josine Meijer chose the pictures.

The really tolerant people, as ever, have been my long suffering family, above all Jackie.

Andrew Marr

London, 18 March 2007