Charles Loch Mowat (1911–1970)

For many, this book serves as the definitive history of Britain between both world wars. I can certainly agree that it covers this period thoroughly. The text is densely packed with figures, statistics, and weighty facts. Thus, in terms of narrating what occurred between this wars, this book is probably second to none. However, what Mowat does not attempt to do is analyse all of the information that he provides. He makes no effort to move from narrative history to analytical history; he does not argue a perspective. Some, including this historian, would find that approach to be a grievous fault. However, this should not be taken as a reason to dismiss this tome. The book is a difficult and dry read and quite often I felt I had to slog through it, but in terms of the sheer amount of information contained between its covers, one would be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive survey of the period.… (more)

2077 Britain Between the Wars 1918-1940, by Charles Loch Mowat (read 26 Apr 1987) This is a 1955 book and some of it was dry, and of course I have been over this ground several times recently, but this is a good book. The book ends with the coming of the war and the fall of Chamberlain on May 10, 1940--highly dramatic events which the reading about of can never fail to fascinate. The crisis which caused Chamberlain to resign began several days before Hitler's invasion of the Low Countries and France on May 10. The story is a fantastic story. There are eleven chapters. The final chapter is entitled: "Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth: 1937-1940."… (more)