My Life – Oswald Mosley

During his long life, the British Fascist leader Oswald Mosley knew just about everybody worth knowing. Politicians like Winston Churchill, Franklin D Roosevelt and Lloyd George. Leading society hostesses such as Lady Cunard, Mrs Randolph Hearst and Nancy Astor. He also knew Beaverbook, Northcliffe and Rothermere: the three most powerful press barons of their day. Authors like Compton Mackenzie and Henry Williamson were among his friends. And of course, Mosley had a unique personal insight into the characters of Hitler, Mussolini, Goering and the Goebbels. On reading this book Michael Foot, Leader of the Labour Party during the 1980s, commented: “He came near to diverting the whole course of British history…What Mosley so valiantly stood for could have saved his country from the Hungry Thirties and the Second World War.” ‘The outstanding politician of his generation, … Mosley was spurned by Whitehall, Fleet Street and every party leader at Westminster, simply and solely because he was right.’ – R. H. S. Crossman in ‘The New Statesman’ ‘Only Oswald Mosley … rose to the height of the challenge. His proposals… offered a blueprint for most of the constructive advances in economic policy to the present day … an astonishing achievement, evidence of a superlative talent.’ – A. J. P. Taylor in ‘English History, 1914-1945’ ‘Mosley is the only man I have ever known who could have been a very great Prime Minister … His diagnosis was right … an enormously gifted man.’ – Lord Boothby in a BBC broadcast ‘Great talents and great strength of character.’ – Harold Macmillan in ‘Winds of Change’