{"product_id":"games-with-shadows-paperback","title":"Games with Shadows - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eNeal Ascherson\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeautifully written, intelligent and provocative reflections on the world scene as Ascherson looks first at the painful business of being English in a period of decline marked by public nastiness and private confusion. He goes on to attack - in an important and original series of arguments -the politics of 'Stonehenge' the UK's archaic and undemocratic constitution, and finally examines the temptations of state power in Mrs Thatcher's decade. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNext, Ascherson takes us on a personal tour of Europe, 'the barbaric continent', exposing some ugly hatred and memories lurking beneath the cultured surface; he writes movingly about the courage and sacrifice that nations at their best can draw out. His meditations on Eastern Europe, 'Waltzing With Molotov', are exemplary for their critical sympathy. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the book's final section, a vivid and memorable collection of sectarians, spies, traitors, heroes, monsters and victims reveals a lot about fear and hope in the closing years of this dangerous century.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAscherson looks, first, at the painful business of being English in a period of decline marked by public nastiness and private confusion. He goes on to attack- in an important and original series of arguments- the politics of 'Stonehenge': the UK's archaic and undemocratic constitution.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCharles Neal Ascherson (born October 5, 1932) is a Scottish journalist and writer. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHe was born in Edinburgh and educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge, where he read history. He was described by the historian Eric Hobsbawm as \"perhaps the most brilliant student I ever had. I didn't really teach him much, I just let him get on with it.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAfter graduating with a starred First, he declined offers to pursue an academic career. Instead, he chose a career in journalism, first at the \u003ci\u003eManchester Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e and then at \u003ci\u003eThe Scotsman\u003c\/i\u003e (1959-1960), \u003ci\u003eThe Observer\u003c\/i\u003e (1960-1990) and the \u003ci\u003eIndependent on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e (1990-1998). He contributed scripts for the 1974 documentary series \u003ci\u003eWorld at War\u003c\/i\u003e and the 1998 series \u003ci\u003eThe Cold War\u003c\/i\u003e. In recent years, he has also been a regular contributor to the \u003ci\u003eLondon Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 500\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.01 x 9.21 x 6.14 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 31, 2013\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42118709641351,"sku":"9781448206384","price":32.11,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/2623\/2711\/files\/ecf652341d051e72f8792e2f9358b183.webp?v=1732535634","url":"https:\/\/booksby.splitshops.com\/products\/games-with-shadows-paperback","provider":"Books by splitShops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}