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Power and Place: the political consequences of King Edward VII

Written by: Simon Heffer


We are not used to thinking of King Edward VII as a political figure. In popular historical memory he is a playboy, womaniser, gambler, sybarite. Yet in Simon Heffer's view it is time we took him more seriously.

That first decade of the twentieth century proved to be far more than a golden epilogue to the reign of Queen Victoria. It was a crucial turning point when the remnants of feudalism and hereditary power that had survived Victoria's sixty years on the throne finally yielded to power that had been democratically elected.

To say that Victoria was the last unconstitutional monarch and Edward the first constitutional one is simplistic. As Heffer recounts, during his reign Edward fought constant battles with ministers, notably at the Foreign Office, War Office and Admiralty. He was absorbed in the most bitter constitutional crisis of the twentieth century - the fight between the Lords and the Commons about the retention of the Upper House's veto on legislation.

Edward's influence was enormous. As Heffer points out, the extent of his power and authority can be measured by the speed with which, after his death, great changes were made to the prerogative powers of the throne.

POWER AND PLACE: THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF KING EDWARD VII is a major reconsideration of a monarch whose achievements in twentieth century political and diplomatic history have too often been ignored.

POWER AND PLACE: THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF KING EDWARD VII was published on 31st August 1998 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

Other publications by Simon Heffer



Staring at God

Vaughan Williams

Nor Shall My Sword

Like the Roman: The Life of Enoch Powell

Moral Desperado: A Life of Thomas Carlyle

Strictly English

The Age of Decadence: Britain 1880 to 1914

High Minds

The Great British Speeches: A Stirring Anthology of Speeches from Every Period of British History
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Authors
  • A-C
  • D-F
  • G-K
  • L-M
  • N-Q
  • R-S
  • T-V
  • W-Z
Twitter
  • about 4 hours ago"I was preparing a speech for the virtual Booker Prize, when I came across Ben Okri’s Poem for the Booker Prize."… https://t.co/2FXzQIao7A
  • about 12 hours agoWe are also thrilled to see such a FANTASTIC review of #KEATS by Lucasta Miller in the @thesundaytimes🤩! #KEATS wi… https://t.co/H7cueUMl0R
  • about 5 days agoWhen an @ihr_history prize named after you... 🤩#morningnews Congratulations @OlivetteOtele!!! https://t.co/gF6i41jfJp
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