‘Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the road to war’, by Tim Bouverie

Review by Reg Naulty

A close-up of the book cover. | Photo: Bodley Head.

What is of special interest to Friends in this story, so well told by Tim Bouverie, is the strong inclination to pacifism which existed in Britain between the wars, and the huge efforts of Neville Chamberlain to preserve peace. Bouverie writes: ‘The campaign against the arms manufacturers was continued by the Left [in the decade after world war one]. The Liberals were wholly committed to disarmament; while the Labour leader, the Christian Socialist George Lansbury, wanted to disband the Army, dismiss the Air Force and dare the world to “Do Your Worst”.’

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