{"title":"Books by Stephen Kelly","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781350202191","title":"Margaret Thatcher, the Conservative Party and the Northern Ireland Conflict, 1975-1990","description":"The first woman elected to lead a major Western power and the longest serving British prime minister for 150 years, Margaret Thatcher is arguably one the most dominant and divisive forces in 20th-century British politics. Yet there has been no overarching exploration of the development of Thatcher's views towards Northern Ireland from her appointment as Conservative Party leader in 1975 until her forced retirement in 1990. In this original and much-needed study, Stephen Kelly rectifies this. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom Thatcher's 'no surrender' attitude to the Republican hunger strikes to her nurturing role in the early stages of the Northern Ireland peace process, Kelly traces the evolutionary and sometimes contradictory nature of Thatcher's approach to Northern Ireland. In doing so, this book reflects afresh on the political relationship between Britain and Ireland in the late-20th century. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn engaging and nuanced analysis of previously neglected archival and reported sources, \u003ci\u003eMargaret Thatcher, the Conservative Party and the Northern Ireland Conflict, 1975-1990\u003c\/i\u003e is a vital resource for those interested in Thatcherism, Anglo-Irish relations, and 20th-century British political history more broadly.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298051207541,"sku":"9781350202191","price":31.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781350202191_05219fc7-6032-42b4-95e9-2b4351200573.jpg?v=1786018768"},{"product_id":"9781916742512","title":"Gerald Boland","description":"\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback \/ softback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56309683061109,"sku":"9781916742512","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781916742512_c977ff68-cd67-47ec-befd-3b3cbe80aa13.jpg?v=1786030555"},{"product_id":"edward-heath-and-the-early-years-of-the-northern-ireland-troubles-1968-1975","title":"Edward Heath and the Early Years of the Northern Ireland Troubles, 1968-1975","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis monograph is primarily a biographical examination of Edward Heath’s public and private attitude to Northern Ireland during his time as official leader of the Opposition (1965-1970 \u0026amp; 1974-1975) and U.K. prime minister (1970-1974). It is the first published study of its kind. Due to access to new and previously closed archival files, this book radically challenges the current historiography \u003ci\u003evis-à-vis\u003c\/i\u003e Heath’s Northern Ireland policy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt offers readers a fascinating insight into some of the more controversial aspects of the U.K. government’s Northern Ireland policy during the early years of the ‘Troubles’, including Heath’s attitude to the use of the so-called ‘five techniques’ of torture; his pivotal role during the events leading to ‘Bloody Sunday’, on 30 Janaury 1972; and, lastly, his role as one of the leading architects of the Sunningdale Agreement of December 1973. \u003cbr\u003eBy examining the various topics under consideration, this study provides readers with nuanced insight into how Heath formulated and implemented his Northern Ireland policies, primarily in the political, military, and security realms.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor Heath, Northern Ireland was not simply a political preoccupation. The subject, over time, became quite personal, not least given that Heath survived, not one, but two assassination attempts on his life, mounted by Irish Republican terrorists in 1974 and 1975, respectively. For the remainder of his life, Heath remained fearful that a third attempt on his life by Irish Republican paramilitaries would prove to be deadly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57503589138805,"sku":"9781350634756","price":85.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781350634756.jpg?v=1786867295"},{"product_id":"leather-boots-balls-and-bovril","title":"Leather Boots, Balls and Bovril","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLeather Boots and Bovril\u003c\/i\u003e is a vivid and affectionate portrait of football in the 1950s, a decade that transformed the game forever. As Britain emerged from the shadow of war, football entered a period of extraordinary change. Floodlights illuminated stadiums, European competition beckoned, television brought the sport into living rooms and a new generation of stars captured the public imagination.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThrough the eyes of a young supporter growing up in post-war Britain, Stephen Kelly recreates the sights, sounds and experiences of a football culture now largely vanished. From standing on packed terraces smelling of cigarettes and Bovril to collecting programmes, listening to Sports Report, swapping Football Monthly magazines and watching heroes such as Stanley Matthews, Billy Wright, Jackie Milburn, Tom Finney, Ferenc Puskás and the Busby Babes, this is football as it was lived and loved.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBlending personal memories with social history, \u003ci\u003eLeather Boots and Bovril\u003c\/i\u003e captures a world of leather footballs, muddy pitches, crowded trains, rattles, scarves and unforgettable characters. It is both a celebration of the game's golden age and a fascinating portrait of Britain in a decade of enormous change.\u003c\/p\u003e``","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57613221527925,"sku":"9781836805786","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-stephen-kelly.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}