I suppose that we all think that the time in which we became interested in a subject is its key period. In the 1970's and 80's, the Labour Party of Great Britain was in a period of flux and my first stirrings of political interested were likewise.

The first Labour Prime Minister that I actually remember was Harold Wilson and so, naturally, I read his biography (a good replacement for Mogadon) and now Barbara Castle's tome. She never made the top job but, was a member of the inner sanctum for many years making her someone with much to say - and she does. As tedious as Harold's offering, Barbara's was enthralling. She brings events to life and is open about her feelings for all the main characters, without ever being bitchy.

Were I to voice one criticism, it is something which I have noticed about most political biographies, and that is the biographee, if I may create a new form of that word, always warned their fellow protagonists about anything that, with the glory of 20-20 hindsight, was a glaring error. What I would love to know, is whether the erroneous sears are simply fibbing to make their position more virtuous, or whether time has played tricks upon their memories. Barbara Castle, if she is an errant prophetess, leads me to the latter assumption because she is not afraid to tell stories that cast her in a questionable light, when necessary.

I loved this book and would recommend it, not just to political aficionados, but to anyone who likes a straight talking autobiography of a good woman. ( )