A good recapitulation, in Ferguson's inimitable style, of what made Margaret Thatcher great, yes, great. She was a great politician, she reinvigorated a socialist Britain caught in the quagmire of the 1970s, making it a great power again, and she aided in the downfall of Soviet communism. This is an e-book, very short, an hors-d'œuvre, but with some historiographical punch. I wish it was published in paper. ( )

This was my first "Kindle Single". I like the format - it allows for an extended extended form essay! This is not a dispassionate history of the Thatcher era (the title may give that way) but rather a witty and personal account of her era. He gives a thoroughly awed view of her 'perfect reign'. I guess this is a bit lighthearted, and also reflective of the completely polarised views in the UK on Thatcher's era. Most commentary seems to either claim that she saved Britain from disaster without ever putting a foot wrong, or alternatively that she was up with Hitler and Stalin as the embodiment of the evil that is neoliberalism.
This book might play into that somewhat, although intended to be lighthearted. Like Ferguson's 'Pity of War' it seems to be somewhat mischievously aimed at engendering debate in the vein of his hero AJP Taylor. In that it is effective, and certainly stimulating. For a more comprehensive and nuanced view of the era see Charles Moore's biography (her opponents probably see this as rabidly biased!). ( )