Rose Tremain's Restoration and Thatcherism
Authors : Susanne Fendler, Ruth Wittlinger
Pages : 29-50
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Publication Date : 2000-06-01
Article Type : Research
Abstract :Restoration by Rose Tremain was published in 1989 when a decade came to an end in Britain that was not only one of the most contentious periods in the post-war history of the country but also the decade which, from a historical perspective, will probably prove to have had the greatest impact on Britain's further development in terms of social and value change. This article will claim that Rose Tremain used the genre of the historical novel to portray and criticise the reality of Thatcher's Britain, as Rose perceived it. This article will examine four major issues which repeatedly occur as themes in the novel and constitute important elements of Thatcherism: the 'New Age' authoritarian leadership and the leadership figure, the nature of Thatcherite society, and the role of the individual within it.Keywords : Rose Tremain, Thatcher, the nature of Thatcherite society, 'New Age' authoritarian leadership