The Intrigues of Jennie Lee
Member of Parliament from Scotland Jennie Lee is swept up in both romantic and political maneuverings in the turbulent 1920s and 1930s. Only 24 when first elected (too young even to cast her own vote), Lee is a fierce advocate for the Labour party, delivering from the back bench of the House of Commons fierce and pointed speeches at Tories as well as members of her own party who are not doing enough for the vast and growing number of the unemployed.
An accomplished political thriller that touches on behind-the-scenes manipulation and machinations, demagoguery and smoldering fascism, The Intrigues of Jennie Lee also offers astute insights about the failed promise of communism under Stalin and the devastating consequences of blind adherence to the gold standard. Portraits of major legislative players— Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, MPs Oswald Mosley and Frank Wise, and the firebrand Lee—are keenly drawn as they interact with one another in the halls of Westminster and move from bedroom to bedroom. A highly intelligent foray into a past that faced many of the same forces seen today. Perhaps even more important: a jolly good read.
