A history of British Prime Ministers - R. L. Leonard

Fifty-two men and one woman have held the post of Prime Minister during the past threecenturies - from Sir Robert Walpole to David Cameron. In this omnibus edition, which includesEighteenth-Century British Premiers, Nineteenth-Century British Premiers, A Century of Premiers,plus new and updated chapters on Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron, Dick Leonardrecounts the circumstances which took them to the top of the 'greasy pole', probes theirpolitical and personal strengths and weaknesses, assesses their performance in office and askswhat lasting influence they have had. The author also recounts fascinating and often littleknownfacts about the private lives of each of the Prime Ministers, for example who wassuspected of being the illegitimate half-brother of George III, who was assassinated in theHouse of Commons, who spent his evenings prowling the streets of London, trying to 'reform'prostitutes, which two premiers, one Tory one Labour, were taught by the same governess as achild, and who was described by his own son as 'probably the greatest natural Don Juan in thehistory of British politics'?