Ernest Bevin: Labour's Churchill

Ernest Bevin was a statesman, pre-eminent leader, and founder of the largest and most formidable trade union. He was Churchills right-hand man during WWII, responsible for the home front and creating West Germany, NATO, and the transatlantic alliance. This biography examines his rise to fame and power and offers a critical reassessment of his life and influence.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 03 June 2021
Publisher: Biteback Publishing

Ernest Bevin, a statesman, pre-eminent leader, and founder of the free world's largest and most formidable trade union, was one of the most rousing figures of the twentieth century. During the Second World War, he served as the Minister of Labour in the wartime coalition, working closely with Churchill as his right-hand man, overseeing the home front while Churchill commanded the battlefront. After the war, Bevin assumed the role of Foreign Secretary at a critical juncture in international history. His primary responsibility was to prevent Stalin and communism from spreading into Western Europe, which he achieved through the formation of West Germany, NATO, and the transatlantic alliance. These institutions continue to underpin European democracy and security to this day. Bevin's remarkable rise from a humble farm boy from Bristol to a position of such authority.

Andrew Adonis, in his discerning and comprehensive biography, delves into the life and influence of this charismatic statesman. He explores how the working-class John Bull grew to hold such authority and provides a critical reassessment of Bevin's life and impact. The book also examines Bevin's powerful legacy and lessons for our own age, restoring him to his rightful place among Britain's greatest political leaders.

Weight: 364g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781785906787