Most Popular Books by Roy Jenkins

Provides a glimpse into the extraordinary life of Britain''s greatest prime minister, recreating his many accomplishments, trials, and tribulations throughout his life that contributed to his success.

In his time, Harry S. Truman was one of the most under-rated presidents of the twentieth century. Succeeding the charismatic Roosevelt, he was often seen as an uninspiring leader, a poor diplomat and a fumbling politician. He was the first man to authorise the use of nuclear weapons, and was in office at the time when the multiplicity of hopes which arose at the end of the Second World War were inevitably disappointed. Nothing could be further from Roy Jenkins'' view of him. This is the first biography of Truman to be written by an author with anything approaching the subject''s own range of political experience, and Roy Jenkins brings to this book a quality of appreciation of Truman''s political skills which has not been seen before. It is also the first biography to be written by a British author, giving it a new objectivity on the international affairs which occupied so much of Truman''s presidency and by which he must be judged.

In acute, stylish prose, Jenkins tackles all of the nuances and intricacies of FDRUs character--a masterly work by the "New York Times" bestselling author of "Churchill" and "Gladstone."

From the New York Times bestselling author of Churchill, a towering historical biography, available for the first time in paperback. William Gladstone was, with Tennyson, Newman, Dickens, Carlyle, and Darwin, one of the stars of nineteenth-century British life. He spent sixty-three of his eighty-nine years in the House of Commons and was prime minister four times, a unique accomplishment. From his critical role in the formation of the Liberal Party to his preoccupation with the cause of Irish Home Rule, he was a commanding politician and statesman nonpareil. But Gladstone the man was much more: a classical scholar, a wide-ranging author, a vociferous participant in all the great theological debates of the day, a voracious reader, and an avid walker who chopped down trees for recreation. He was also a man obsessed with the idea of his own sinfulness, prone to self-flagellation and persistent in the practice of accosting prostitutes on the street and attempting to persuade them of the errors of their ways. This full and deep portrait of a complicated man offers a sweeping picture of a tumultuous century in British history, and is also a brilliant example of the biographer’s art.

First published in 1964, Asquith was one of the most crucial and controversial of modern Prime Ministers. He was opposed with a bitterness and a violence that English politicians have not subsequently known, yet he enjoyed eight and a half years of unbroken power, and for at least the first six years of these he presided with an easy authority over the most talented government of this century. The issues which he confronted were momentous – Peers v. People, Ireland, and the Great War. Bringing to bear exceptional knowledge, judgement, insight and tolerance, he survived them all. His fall seemed therefore all the more shocking.

Roy Jenkins follows up Churchill with a book of a very different shape; short and semi-autobiographical, but also full of the wit and erudition which make that book such a success. Each of the twelve cities are described with a mixture of architectural interest, topographical insight, and personal anecdote. Jenkins has three British cities: Cardiff, which was the metropolis of his Monmouthshire childhood, Birmingham which he represented in Parliament for 27 years, and Glasgow, which aroused in him an enthusiasm far transcending politics. Further afield there is Paris, Brussels, where he lived for four years as President of the European Commission; Bonn, and Berlin, surveyed from its pre-war splendour, through to its architectural resurgence of the 1990s, Naples and Barcelona. From Lord Jenkins''s over a hundred visits to North America there emerge highly personal recollections of New York and a more objective view of the of Chicago. Dublin, so near to home and yet so distant, makes up the dozen. Twelve Cities is a fascinating and sparkling collection from one of our very finest writers

First published in 1984, this is the first biography of Stanley Baldwin for more than ten years, although there had been four in the preceding decade. This is strange, for Baldwin has recently begun to swim back into fashion. In part this is a function of growing nostalgia for his period of power, the 1920s and 1930s. Still more, however, it is " because Mrs Thatcher''s brand of Conservative leadership has made him an object of contrasting interest in a way that Harold Macmillan''s or Edward Heath''s never did. When a new exponent of an alternative style temporarily achieves notice, it is now frequently suggested that he might be a new Baldwin. This reappraisal is therefore appropriately timed. It is written by a skilled political biographer, from a non-Conservative, although not personally unsympathetic, standpoint. Baldwin was born in 1867, the son of a rich Worcestershire ironmaster, and educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. He then worked in the family business for twenty years. Although the most self-conscious countryman amongst British Prime Ministers of the past hundred years or more, he was not a country squire and never owned more than a few acres of land. He did not enter the House of Commons until he was forty, and was not even a junior minister until the threshold of fifty. Less than six years later, in 1923, he became Prime Minister and dominated British politics for the next fifteen years - the only man of this century to hold the highest office three times.

In Portraits and Miniatures, Roy Jenkins brings his penetrating intelligence and elegant prose to subjects ranging from literature and political history to wine and croquet. Long experience in both Houses of Parliament and as President of the European Commission has given him unparalleled insight into political figures such as R. A. Butler, Aneurin Bevan, Konrad Adenauer, and de Gaulle. A varied selection of essays, Portraits and Miniatures is fascinating, witty, and endlessly entertaining.

This text provides a fascinating insight into the heart of politics over the last two hundred years and furthers our understanding of one of the most significant political roles in British government.

Sir Charles Dilke was born in 1843 and died in 1911. His career is one of the mysteries and tragedies of nineteenth-century history. In the summer of 1885 he was the youngest man in the outgoing cabinet and Gladstone''s most likely successor as leader of the Liberal Party. But his great expectations were shattered when in July 1885 Donald Crawford, a Liberal candidate, began divorce proceedings against his twenty-two-year-old wife, citing Dilke as co-respondent. There were two hearings, during the second of which Mrs Crawford made the most sensational allegations and in the end Dilke lost. He maintained his innocence to his dying day and despite his public disgrace there were many who believed him. First published in 1958, Dilke is a story with a climax as exciting as it is mysterious and which bears continuing relevance to the private lives of public figures.

Jenkins has been a British cabinet minister, president of the European Commission, and is chancellor of Oxford University.

First published in 1989, this diary provides the background to two vital issues: our relations with the European Community and the state of politics in Britain. Few people are better qualified to know how we arrived where we are than Roy Jenkins. During the period of this diary he was President of the European Commission. The diary provides a picture of the day-to-day life of the head of an international organization, of the conflicting pressures and grinding routine, of the importance of personal relationships with world leaders such as Helmut Schmidt, Valéry Giscard d''Estaing, James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, Willy Brandt, Jean Monnet and Jimmy Carter. In addition to the political chronicle we have frank and sometimes unguarded revelations about the author, his tastes and preoccupations, from which emerges a man more imbued with public passion, more eccentric and with a more varied private life than many readers may expect. His subtle perception of people is revealed in brilliant portraits of, for example, Schmidt, pessimistic, streaked with melancholy, indiscreet and yet notably constructive, and Giscard d''Estaing, highly intelligent but with pretentions that sometimes make him faintly ludicrous. For those concerned with the way the world is developing and the impact of a civilized and essentially private personality on public events, European Diary is compulsory reading.

Lord Jenkins tells the story of the rise and fall of the British Liberal party under prime ministers Gladstone, Churchill, Asquith, and Lloyd George and explores the place of current British Prime Minister Tony Blair in this tradition.

What do you tell a teenager that is failing 9th grade, has learning disabilities, no social life, no direction, friends, money or hope? Ike Hebert is being raised by a single Mom who is holding down two jobs to keep their home together. All Ike has is a bicycle and a dream - to become a champion motocross racer. Through circumstances and a friendship with an outcast junkyard dealer, Ike is able to fan the flame of his dream into life, while learning a secret about growing up, success and happiness. He gets the faith in himself he needs to form his dream and begin to pursue it, against all odds. Suddenly his world and his dream is side-tracked when Ike is lured into a 25 year-old crime. Join Ike as he solves the mystery, negotiates the twists and turns of life s circumstances and overcomes the enemies that try to stop him as he solves this case in south Louisiana."

Motorcycling has become more than a fad in America. It is now a pastime for a growing number of people. Entire families are riding dirt bikes and ATVs for recreation. Motocross racing is the fastest growing motor sport behind NASCAR and has captured the imagination of an entire generation of fans who enjoy the excitement of extreme sports. Roy Jenkins started riding motorcycles in the early 70s and was a successful amateur racer by the time he graduated from High School. Today he is a motocross racing announcer, chaplain, teacher and journalist. Racing Fuel for the Spirit is his second book written for motorcycle riders who want inspiration and spiritual growth from the Bible. Using his 20 years of Bible teaching experience and Masters degree in Biblical Studies, this ordained minister leads weekly devotions at motocross and Arenacross races in Mississippi and Louisiana. He uses stories from his years as a Pastor, River deck hand, Oil-field commercial diver, school teacher and most importantly as a husband and father. He throws in some stories from his experiences from motocross racing, cross-country motorcycle trips, and even sailing adventures. Photos from the people, places and events are sprinkled liberally throughout the book. His calling, gift and purpose is to get the Bible into the hands of people who wont normally read it for themselves. He uses a real life story, raises an interesting question, then brings in the appropriate Bible principle, sometimes finishing off with a memorable quote for the day. In this book he includes photos from the world of motorcycling and beyond to help the reader picture the inspirational thought. Racing Fuel for the Spirit is especially helpful for those who are too busy to read, but are interested in hearing how Gods Word applies to a wide range of everyday topics such as: love, family, worry, prayer, patience, health, competing, depression, work, school, getting old, enjoying life, hope,

THROUGH THIS BOOK, YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO: * PROTECT YOUR FAMILY CIRCLE. *TAKE LITERALLY THE WARNING FOUND IN ST. MATTHEW 7:15; BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS IN SHEEP''S CLOTHING, BUT INWARDLY THEY ARE RAVENING WOLVES. *TRUST GOD AND FAMILY IMPLICITLY. *TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WANT TO BE TREATED. *"BE WISE AS SERPENTS AND HARMLESS AS DOVES."

From his days helping to decode the Enigma ciphers to his election as Chancellor of Oxford University, Jenkins has led a life of variety and drama. His political career in Britain and in Europe saw many responsibilities; from Home Secretary in the sixties, to President of the European Commission, before returning to found the Social Democratic Party.