Designed to give any reader interested in modern history and politics a set of consistent summaries of the careers of the most active political figures, this Dictionary reflects the distinctive character of twentieth--century political life. Although its primary focus is on politicians, and particularly those who have held imporatant office in government or the major parties, the book also includes entries on many people who would not be regarded primarily as politicians. Among these are church leaders, media figures, civil servants, soldiers, scientists, trade unionists, businessmen, writers and the royal family. The dictionary does not aim to incude every politician who has held minor office, but by attempting a wider coverage than parliamentary or party politics it provides a biographical backcloth to the figures who participated in Britaina s world role, to the rise and fall of different political institutions in the twentieth century. The span of the volume reaches from the early twentieth century to the present, though it excludes certain figures whose main careers were made in the years before 1900. Some Irish political figures are included, although Irish political life is not treated comprehensively. The book contains photographs, guides to further reading and a full index.