Simon Heffer, Sing As We Go

In this event co-presented by EA Festival and Essex Book Festival, Rowan Pelling will interview Simon Heffer about his most recent book, Sing As We Go.

The fourth and final volume in his critically-acclaimed sequence of books charting the history of Britain in the century from the accession of Queen Victoria to the outbreak of the Second World War, Sing As We Go explores and explains the politics of the period, and puts such moments of national turmoil as the General Strike of 1926 and the Abdication Crisis of 1936 under the microscope. It traces the changing face of Britain as cars made their first mass appearance, the suburbs sprawled, and radio and cinema became the means of mass entertainment. And it probes the deep divisions that split the nation.

This event will include an audience Q&A. After the event there will be an opportunity to purchase Sing As We Go and have it signed by Simon.

Part of The History Books: Step back in time for a series of fascinating conversations at the beautiful Layer Marney Tower. Boasting the UK’s tallest Tudor Gatehouse and stunning grounds, no wonder it was one of Henry VIII’s favourite Tudor Palaces. Festival tickets include free entry to the Tower and Gardens. Visit The History Books page for more details.

Sunday 30 June, 4.00pm

Venue: Layer Marney Tower, Near Colchester, CO5 9US
Tickets: £14 (includes entrance to Layer Marney Tower and Gardens)
Box Office: essexbookfestival.org.uk or Mercury Theatre 01206 573948

Make a day of it! The History Books Ticket Deal: All three events for £36. Discount will be automatically applied at checkout when tickets for all 3 events are booked:
12.00pm – Ysenda Maxtone Graham
2.00pm – Estelle Paranque
4.00pm – Simon Heffer

Sing As We Go: Britain Between the Wars by Simon Heffer

Published 21 September 2023

Order a copy of Sing As We Go at bookshop.org

An astonishingly ambitious overview of the political, social and cultural history of the country from 1919 to 1939.

The fourth and final volume in Simon Heffer’s critically-acclaimed sequence of books – High Minds (2013), The Age of Decadence (2017) and Staring at God (2019) – that chart the history of Britain in the century from the accession of Queen Victoria to the outbreak of the Second World War.

Sing As We Go explores and explains the politics of the period, and puts such moments of national turmoil as the General Strike of 1926 and the Abdication Crisis of 1936 under the microscope. It offers pen portraits of the era’s most significant figures. It traces the changing face of Britain as cars made their first mass appearance, the suburbs sprawled, and radio and cinema became the means of mass entertainment. And it probes the deep divisions that split the nation: between the haves and have-nots, between warring ideological factions, and between those who promoted accommodation with fascism in Europe and those who bitterly opposed it.

‘Gloriously rich and spirited . . . colourful, character driven history.’ – Sunday Times

‘A magnificent achievement.’ – The Times

About the Author

Simon Heffer was born in 1960. He read English at Cambridge and took a PhD in modern history at that university. His previous books include: Moral Desperado: A Life of Thomas Carlyle, Like the Roman: The Life of Enoch Powell, Power and Place: The Political Consequences of King Edward VII, Nor Shall My Sword: The Reinvention of England, Vaughan Williams, Strictly English, A Short History of Power, Simply English, High Minds: The Victorians and the Birth of Modern Britain, The Age of Decadence, Staring at God and the recently published unexpurgated three volumes of The Henry ‘Chips’ Channon Diaries. In a thirty-year career in Fleet Street he is now a columnist for The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph.