Lord Beaverbrook (1879–1964)

On the one hand, this book, which relates the tale of the last months of the Lloyd George coalition government of the post-World War I era, is quite entertaining, especially with some of the asides written by Lord Beaverbrook. On the other hand, and this is what's responsible for the lower level of the rating, one has to be extremely wary of anything Beaverbrook says, as he was a master manipulator in his time, and this book, by which he purports to write history, is no exception. Take the show more book with a grain of salt. show less

The Canadian Press Lord was there, almost a cabinet minister to hear him tell it, and a buddy of WSC. This work is mostly a description of the onset of the war and the operations of the Asquith government until it became necessary to form a coalition government under Lloyd George to continue the war. The prose is clear, and it is obvious who was a friend of Beaverbrook, and who was not.

While not necessarily the most accurate account of Canada's contribution during the early years of the First World War, it is certainly one of the best examples of propaganda typical of the period. Very interesting insight into the period.

Max Aiken began as a New Brunswick Reporter, and ended as a baron of the British Peerage and the British Press. He served as Minister of Information in the Lloyd George coalition government in 1917 - 18. Perfectly positioned he has written an account of the UK government in the closing stages of WWI. This book is useful as covering the second period in government of Winston Churchill in another man's eyes. Beaverbrook went on to be a cabinet minister in WWII as well.