Who Dares Wins

Britain, 1979-1982

By: Dominic Sandbrook

Narrated by: Dominic Sandbrook

Brought to you by Penguin.

The early 1980s were the most dramatic, colourful and controversial in our modern history. Margaret Thatcher had come to power with a daring plan to reverse Britain's decline into shabbiness and chaos. But as factories closed their doors, dole queues lengthened and the inner cities exploded in flames, would her harsh medicine rescue the Sick Man of Europe - or kill it off?

Evocative, surprising and gloriously entertaining, Dominic Sandbrook's new book recreates the great turning point in Britain's modern history. For some people this was an age of unparalleled opportunity, the heyday of computers and credit cards, snooker, Sloane Rangers and Spandau Ballet.

But as industries collapsed, working-class communities buckled and the Labour Party tore itself apart, it was also an age of extraordinary acrimony. And when Argentine forces seized the Falklands, it seemed the final humiliation for a deeply divided country.

Here are the early 1980s in all their gaudy glory: Tony Benn, Ken Livingstone, Ian Botham and Princess Diana. Here are Joy Division, Chariots of Fire, the Austin Metro and Juliet Bravo; wine bars, cruise missiles, the battle of Goose Green and the ZX Spectrum. And towering above them all, the most controversial prime minister in our modern history - the Iron Lady.

©2019 Dominic Sandbrook (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Great history lesson

Born in the early 1960s this book is even for non-British readers a great book to understand the history of the early 80s. Its entertaining, setting matters in context and explains hos the world has developed in to the society of today.

Superb. Thoughtful and incredibly vivid.

The early 80s were a hugely significant time in the history of the UK. This book really does justice to the importance of this years. It’s thoughtful and incredibly thoroughly. Throw in a cast of vivid characters and a gripping narrative and I recommend it to anyone who wants to take a time machine back 40 years.

Unabridged?

It was only half the book. I feel cheated. Where is the rest of the book?

Disappointing

I listened to and loved the previous books in this series, unfortunately, this book does not measure up. Firstly, the audio editing is sloppy to say the least, with numerous repetitions and mispronunciations. Secondly, the author's personal views, kept largely in check in previous books, show through more often than the claim to impartiality would suggest. I could undoubtedly have overlooked these faults were it not for the narration. I can only imagine that David Thorpe (narrator of Seasons in the Sun and State of Emergency) was unavailable. Thorpe is an excellent narrator, gifted with the ability to mimic individual voices, regional and national accents. Sandbrook tries to match Thorpe, but fails. His lisping Tony Ben impersonation and breathy Margaret Thatcher to name but two are cringeworthy in the extreme. So please Mr. Sandbrook, when the next book in the series comes out (and I hope it will) spend the extra and get David Thorpe to narrate it.