Rebel Who Lost His Cause
Subtitle: The Tragedy of John Beckett M. P.
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 396
ISBN-13: 9781138907874
Subjects: British union of fascists; Fascism, great britain; Right-wing extremists; Political prisoners; Great britain, biography; Politicians, great britain; World war, 1939-1945, great britain; Great britain, politics and government, 1901-1936; Great britain, politics and government, 1936-1945
Description: "Even by the standards of the heated political atmosphere of the 1920s and 1930s, John Beckett led an extraordinary life. Elected as Labour's youngest M.P. in 1924, he was a prominent member of the left wing ILP and tipped for future greatness in the party. But his gradual disillusionment with Parliament led him to join the British Union of Fascists in 1934 where he was editor of several fascist publications and a prominent speaker. Moving even further to the fringes of the extreme right, he was a founder with William Joyce (aka Lord Haw-Haw) of the National Socialist League in 1937 and later interned by the government during WW2. He re-emerged from prison after the war and continued his right-wing political activities before converting to Catholicism in later life. The book draws on newly released security service (MI5) files as well as recent research and has been completely revised and updated throughout. Written by the subject's son, an acclaimed political biographer and journalist, this is a fascinating and candid account of a troubled man in turbulent times"--Provided by publisher.