The New Jerusalem: The Collected Works of Clement Attlee

"An honourable and gallant gentleman, and a faithful colleaguewho served his country well at the time of her greatest need."Winston ChurchillBook 1: AS IT HAPPENEDClement Attlee is to this day remembered as “a sheep in sheep’sclothing”, after Churchill’s now infamous comment.But As It Happened tells a different and more complex story of adecent, great man who was often misunderstood.Attlee documents growing up to see the death of VictorianEngland, and the end of an era marked by the First World War.As Deputy Prime Minister during Churchill’s coalition As ItHappened gives us a valuable insight into the war effort andChurchill's leadership.We are also gifted an insight into Attlee's virtues andachievements as a leader too, how he took the Labour Party toelection victory in 1945. The book covers Indian independence, thefoundation of the NHS and Attlee's life after his momentous yearsin office.Book 2: EMPIRE INTO COMMONWEALTHEmpire Into Commonwealth is a record of four seminal lecturesdelivered by Clement Attlee in May 1960, on "Changes in theConception and Structure of the British Empire during the last halfCentury."As Prime Minister during the key years, following the end of theSecond World War, Attlee was able to see and shape the policieswhich shaped the triumphs and tragedies of decolonisation.The call for independence for a number of countries comprisingthe British Empire was loud and clear, which did not mean thatthere was a smooth transition from Empire to Commonwealth.Book 3: THE SOCIAL WORKERClement Attlee presided over Britain’s first socialistgovernment, ushering in radical domestic reforms - from thecreation of the National Health Service to the nationalisation ofthe railways.Attlee’s The Social Worker is a manifestation of an intellectualidea about social work that critiqued the Victorian charitableapproach, which focused on individual character rather than thestructure of society. The manifesto is a blend of Attlee’ssocialist politics with its advocacy of increased governmentinvolvement. The book also reflects his profound belief in theimportance of practical action for helping the disadvantaged.Book 4: PURPOSE AND POLICYClement Attlee’s government, 1945-51, was the first Labourmajority government. Attlee oversaw ambitious domestic reform, likethe creation of the welfare state and the birth of the NHS, andhelped transition the Empire into Commonwealth.The themes of patriotism, discipline, co-operation and socialjustice shine throughout Attlee’s speeches. To a wide variety ofaudiences, Attlee’s speeches called for all people to abandon pettydivisions and to come together for the common good, regardless ofideology.Clement Attlee was born in 1883 and served as British PrimeMinister 1945 - 1951.