The 1970s were the most colourful and controversial decade in the history of modern Britain; they were both the best of times and the worst of times. Wealth inequality was at a record low, yet industrial strife was at a record high. These were the glory years of Doctor Who and glam rock, but the darkest days of the Northern Ireland conflict. Beset by strikes, inflation, power cuts and the rise of the far right, the cosy Britain of the post-war consensus was unravelling – in spectacularly lurid style. Fusing high politics and low culture, this historical account of a decade presents a world in which Enoch Powell, Ted Heath and Tony Benn jostle for space with David Bowie, Hilda Ogden and Margo Leadbetter, and reveals why a country exhausted by decline eventually turned to Margaret Thatcher for salvation.
A unique insight into the 1970s, showing events through popular culture, including dozens of original interviews with 70s politicians, rock stars, actors, designers and authors. 'A masterful work of social history... told with much wit' "Mail On Sunday"
'Turner has certainly hit upon a rich and fascinating subject, and his intertwining of political and cultural history is brilliantly done... This is a masterful work of social history and cultural commentary, told with much wit. It almost makes you feel as if you were there'
'Vivid, brilliantly researched... Turner may be an anorak, but he is an acutely intelligent anorak'
'This well-researched and witty text recounts how the media reflected politics in an era of glamour, bad fashion and inflation? displays wit, colour and detail'
'An adventurous and enjoyable reassessment of a much-maligned decade'
'A real lesson in social history but without the stuffiness? A good fun reminder of the "decade that taste forgot"'
'An ambitious, entertaining alternative history of the 1970s which judges the decade not just by its political turbulence but by the leg-up it gave popular culture'
'Turner combines a fan's sense of populism (weaving in references to a rapidly expanding popular culture) with a keen grasp of the political landscape, which gives his survey of an often overlooked decade its cutting edge'
'Turner's narrative is quite compelling... This is about as far away from sober, stuffy history as you can get and deserves a wide readership'
'Excellent ... this trilogy is about the most authoritative account of the late 20th century as you are likely to get'
