Graham Goodlad is Head of Politics at St John’s College, Southsea. His most recent publication (with Robert Pearce) is British Prime Ministers from Balfour to Brown (Routledge, 2013).

• Chronology Introduction. 1. From corner shop to cabinet room 1925-1970 2. The unexpected leader: 1970-1979 3. The challenges of office: 1979-82 4. Post-imperial fall-out: Rhodesia, Hong Kong and the Falklands, 1979-1984 5. Establishing supremacy: 1982-1985 6. Pinnacle of power: 1985-1988 7. The troubled Union: Northern Ireland, 1979-1990 8. Between the superpowers: 1979-1990 9. Building and resisting European union: 1979-1990 10. Decline and fall: 1988-1990 11. Life after political death: 1990-2013 12. The Thatcher legacy Further Reading Index

"This excellent summary of Thatcher's career and impact combines a thorough coverage of the issues with clear and concise analysis. It is ideally suited for student use."Stuart Ball, University of Leicester, UK"By far the best single-volume biography of Margaret Thatcher’s life. I would recommend it to colleagues and students alike without hesitation."Benjamin Grob-Fitzgibbon, University of Arkansas, USA

Graham Goodlad is Head of Politics at St John’s College, Southsea. His most recent publication (with Robert Pearce) is British Prime Ministers from Balfour to Brown (Routledge, 2013).

• Chronology Introduction. 1. From corner shop to cabinet room 1925-1970 2. The unexpected leader: 1970-1979 3. The challenges of office: 1979-82 4. Post-imperial fall-out: Rhodesia, Hong Kong and the Falklands, 1979-1984 5. Establishing supremacy: 1982-1985 6. Pinnacle of power: 1985-1988 7. The troubled Union: Northern Ireland, 1979-1990 8. Between the superpowers: 1979-1990 9. Building and resisting European union: 1979-1990 10. Decline and fall: 1988-1990 11. Life after political death: 1990-2013 12. The Thatcher legacy Further Reading Index

"This excellent summary of Thatcher's career and impact combines a thorough coverage of the issues with clear and concise analysis. It is ideally suited for student use."Stuart Ball, University of Leicester, UK"By far the best single-volume biography of Margaret Thatcher’s life. I would recommend it to colleagues and students alike without hesitation."Benjamin Grob-Fitzgibbon, University of Arkansas, USA

Graham Goodlad is Head of Politics at St John’s College, Southsea. His most recent publication (with Robert Pearce) is British Prime Ministers from Balfour to Brown (Routledge, 2013).

• Chronology Introduction. 1. From corner shop to cabinet room 1925-1970 2. The unexpected leader: 1970-1979 3. The challenges of office: 1979-82 4. Post-imperial fall-out: Rhodesia, Hong Kong and the Falklands, 1979-1984 5. Establishing supremacy: 1982-1985 6. Pinnacle of power: 1985-1988 7. The troubled Union: Northern Ireland, 1979-1990 8. Between the superpowers: 1979-1990 9. Building and resisting European union: 1979-1990 10. Decline and fall: 1988-1990 11. Life after political death: 1990-2013 12. The Thatcher legacy Further Reading Index

"This excellent summary of Thatcher's career and impact combines a thorough coverage of the issues with clear and concise analysis. It is ideally suited for student use."Stuart Ball, University of Leicester, UK"By far the best single-volume biography of Margaret Thatcher’s life. I would recommend it to colleagues and students alike without hesitation."Benjamin Grob-Fitzgibbon, University of Arkansas, USA