Benn Diaries

Tony Benn was one of the twentieth century''s most charismatic politicians. The Benn Diaries, kept for almost seventy years, are a uniquely authoritative, fascinating and readable record of the political life of our times.

This single-volume edition is the selected highlights of the complete diaries from Tony''s schooldays in the 1940s until he ceased keeping a record of his day-to-day thoughts in 2009.

The narrative starts with Tony as a schoolboy and takes the reader through his experience as a trainee pilot during the war, his tentative first days as a backbencher in Atlee''s post-war government, through his battle to remain in the Commons after the death of his father. From cabinet posts and leadership battles, through election highs ands lows to becoming a retired widower. Tony Benn was a consistently radical voice campaigning for the causes he was passionate about.

This volume is the definitive legacy of the best political diarist of our times.