People Like Us: Margaret Thatcher and Me

Caroline Slocock was Margaret Thatcher's first female private secretary and was with her for the final eighteen months of her premiership. She observed the vulnerabilities and contradictions of the woman considered by many to be the ultimate anti-feminist and concluded it's time to rewrite how we portray powerful women.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 384 pages
\n Publication date: 05 February 2019
\n Publisher: Biteback Publishing
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Caroline Slocock, a young civil servant, achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first ever female private secretary to a British Prime Minister. Her remarkable journey took her to the side of Margaret Thatcher for the final eighteen months of her premiership. Despite their differing political ideologies, Slocock was captivated by Thatcher's enigmatic persona and her remarkable ability to navigate a male-dominated world. As events unfolded and Thatcher's reign came to an end, Slocock witnessed the vulnerabilities and contradictions of the woman often perceived as the ultimate anti-feminist.

Slocock's unique perspective as the only woman present in the Cabinet Room during Thatcher's resignation adds depth to her narrative. She reflects on the fact that had Thatcher been a man, the outcome would have been significantly different. People Like Us, a vivid first-hand account based on Slocock's diaries and interviews with key Downing Street personnel, offers a nuanced portrayal of Thatcher. It challenges the sexist narratives that have routinely demonized her and highlights the challenges women continue to face in public life.

Slocock concludes that it is time to rewrite how we portray powerful women and for women to embrace their identity as part of the broader society. She argues that Thatcher's legacy should be seen as a testament to the fact that women can achieve great things and make a significant impact on the world. People Like Us serves as a remarkable political and personal memoir, offering a glimpse into life inside Thatcher's No. 10 during its dying days and reflecting on women and power in both the past and the present.

\n Weight: 370g\n
Dimension: 194 x 123 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781785904608\n \n