{"product_id":"9781849669801","title":"A State of Play: British Politics on Screen, Stage and Page, from Anthony Trollope to The Thick of It","description":"\u003ci\u003eA State of Play\u003c\/i\u003e explores how the British have imagined their politics, from the parliament worship of Anthony Trollope to the cynicism of \u003ci\u003eThe Thick of It\u003c\/i\u003e. In an account that mixes historical with political analysis, Steven Fielding argues that fictional depictions of politics have played an important but insidious part in shaping how the British think about their democracy and have helped ventilate their many frustrations with Westminster. He shows that dramas and fictions have also performed a significant role in the battle of ideas, in a way undreamt of by those who draft party manifestos. \u003cbr\u003e   \u003cbr\u003eThe book examines the work of overtly political writers have treated the subject, discussing the novels of H.G. Wells,  the comedy series \u003ci\u003eYes, Minister\u003c\/i\u003e and the plays of David Hare. However, it also assesses how less obvious sources, such as the films of George Formby, the novels of Agatha Christie, the \u003ci\u003eJust William \u003c\/i\u003estories and situation comedies like \u003ci\u003eSteptoe and Son\u003c\/i\u003e, have reflected on representative democracy. \u003cbr\u003e   \u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA State of Play \u003c\/i\u003eis an invaluable, distinctive and engaging guide to a new way of thinking about Britain's political past and present.","brand":"Bloomsbury USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47140309827824,"sku":"9781849669801","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781849669801_p0.jpg?v=1763752502","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781849669801","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}