Synopsis
Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction
A Book of the Year in The Times, TLS and Prospect
The definitive history of Britain’s tumultuous relationship with Europe – as it’s never been told before.
‘Thought-provoking’ - The Sunday Times
'Mesmerising' - LRB
'A great big entertaining sweep of a book' - The Guardian
'Excellent' - The Telegraph
'Rich and incisive' - The Economist
‘Powerful, precise, morally engaged’ - Rory Stewart
‘The authoritative political history’ - David Kynaston
'Sweeping and ambitious' - Helen Lewis
In this lively history, acclaimed writer Tom McTague chronicles the battle of ideas, events and personalities that first took the country into the Common Market in 1973, only to take it out of the European Union in an explosive referendum a little over forty years later.
A riveting story of the clashing ideals that have pulled at Britain’s public imagination for more than seven decades, Between the Waves illuminates the conflicts between leading twentieth century politicians and the lesser-known actors in this great post-war drama: the Eurosceptic student radicals, Cold Warriors, eccentric billionaires and political strategists who turned the tide of history.
Ultimately, this book raises that most elemental of questions: who are we?
Details
Reviews
“Between the Waves is powerful, precise, morally engaged, wonderfully alert to character, context and the greater purpose of political life”Rory Stewart, author of Politics on the Edge
“This compelling, hugely well-informed narrative of how we came to leave Europe – a narrative involving the eternal interplay between character and fate as well as an exploration of the underestimated swirl of intellectual currents – will stand for many years as the authoritative political history”David Kynaston, author of Austerity Britain, 1945-1951
“A sweeping, impressive and ambitious history of modern Europe -- and Britain's turbulent relationship with it. With a deft touch and deep research, Tom McTague has captured a tale of big personalities -- from Enoch Powell to Dominic Cummings -- and even bigger events”Helen Lewis, author of The Genius Myth
“Tom McTague has produced a brilliant and unique piece of historical writing which will change how we think about Britain’s schizophrenic relationship with Europe since the Second World War . . . Unfolding like a play with many acts and players, this extraordinary debut work of history is a reminder that everything is connected but nothing is inevitable”John Bew, author of Citizen Clem
