Neville Chamberlain Diary Letters

As a primary source of historical evidence and insight, it is difficult to overstate the value and importance of Neville Chamberlain's diary letters to his sisters. They represent the most complete and illuminating 'insider' record of British politics between the wars yet to be published. From 1915 Chamberlain wrote detailed weekly epistles to his sisters until his death in 1940; a confidential account of events covering the quarter of a century during which he stood at the very centre of Conservative and national politics. Beyond the fascination of the historical record of people and events, these letters are extremely valuable for the remarkable light they throw upon the personality and character of the private man lurking behind the austerely forbidding public persona. Volume four covers the years 1934 to 1940, which witnessed Chamberlain's rise within Government, leading to his replacement of Stanley Baldwin as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party in 1937. As well as Chamberlain's reaction to the Civil War in Spain, the momentous events of 1938 and 1939 are covered in detail. Chamberlain's visits to Germany in September 1939 and his views on war, appeasement, Britain's military position and Hitler's intentions all receive much analysis, as does the run up to the declaration of war in September 1939. The book concludes with the events of 1940, including the Dunkirk evacuations, Chamberlain's resignation as Prime Minister, and the final months before his death in October.