Cabinet Government and War, 1890–1940

Thisbookwasoriginallypublishedin1958.JohnEhrmanshowsthatthenatureandrangeofgovernmentinGreatBritainwastransformedbythetwoworldwars.Attheendofthenineteenthcenturytheadministrativesystembarelyrecognisedthedemandsofwar.InthetwowarsithadtobecapableofmobilisingthewholeresourcesofthecountryandtheCommonwealth,andthisaffectedthescopeofgovernmentinpeace:almosteveryaspectofnationallifewassubjecttosupervision.YetthisprofoundchangedidlessinBritainthanelsewheretodestroythecountry'straditionsandinstitutions.MrEhrmanshowsthattheCabinetGovernmentretaineditsbasicfeaturesandtraditionalstrength.ThisbookisbasedontheLeesKnowlesLecturesgivenatCambridgein1957.Historianswillfinditgivesimportantinformationabouttheconductofthelastwar,againsttheconstitutionalbackgroundnecessaryforitsunderstanding.