The Conservative Party from Peel to Major

This comprehensive political history traces the Conservative Party's evolution from its 19th-century foundations under Peel through the leadership of John Major, offering readers a thorough examination of how Britain's dominant political force adapted to changing social and economic landscapes across nearly two centuries. Robert Blake brings authoritative insight to this sweeping narrative, having established his reputation through his definitive biography of Disraeli, and here applies that same scholarly rigor to the broader institutional story. The book's expanded editions reflect the party's continuing transformation, moving beyond Churchill to encompass the Thatcher revolution and its immediate aftermath. For anyone seeking to understand the philosophical tensions and practical compromises that have defined modern British conservatism, this work provides essential context.

What distinguishes this political history is Blake's ability to balance analytical depth with narrative clarity, making complex ideological shifts accessible without oversimplification. His perspective as both historian and occasional insider—having served as an Oxford don while maintaining connections to Conservative circles—lends the work unique credibility and nuance. Readers interested in political strategy, institutional endurance, and the relationship between principle and power will find particularly valuable insights into how the party repeatedly reinvented itself while maintaining electoral viability. The result is not just a chronicle of events but a compelling study of how political movements survive through adaptation and tradition.