Order! Order! : the rise and fall of political drinking
Wright, Ben2016
Books, Manuscripts
Drinking has oiled the cogs of politics for as long as there have been politicians. Britain's first Prime Minister, Robert Walpole, smuggled wine up the Thames with the help of the Navy. Three centuries later Tony Blair confessed that a stiff drink and half bottle of wine a night had become his crutch while in office. Joseph Stalin flushed out traitors with vodka. The disintegration of Richard Nixon and Boris Yeltsin was largely down to drink. Winston Churchill was infamous for his drinking, often taking a whiskey and soda first thing in the morning, and champagne ritually with dinner. But why did these politicians drink and what was their tipple of choice? How did drinking help shape the decisions they made? Ben Wright explores the social history of alcohol within politics, from the debauched drinking practices of 18th century ministers up to the present day.
Main title:
Order! Order! : the rise and fall of political drinking / Ben Wright.
Author:
Wright, Ben, author
Imprint:
London : Duckworth Overlook, 2016.
Collation:
352 pages
ISBN:
9780715650639 (hbk)
Dewey class:
394.13
LC class:
GT2884
Local class:
394.13
Language:
English
Subject:
BRN:
1531952
Bookmark link:
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