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In the second episode in this themed week, Canadian author Antony Anderson joins Phil and Andrew to discuss one of the greatest military and diplomatic disasters of the British Empire.

In 1956 a new government in Egypt took control of the Suez canal and Britain - along with France - wanted it back. With the help of Israel a war was secretly planned and then executed - amid global outrage. Britain and France were seen to be acting as old fashioned imperialist bullies in an age of supposed de-colonisation and self determination.

The resulting crisis split the British commonwealth, caused a deep rift between London and Washington and cast a shadow over the government of British Prime Minster Anthony Eden. It took a gifted Canadian diplomat - Lesley Pearson - to help restore international relations and calm the conflict.

Phil is writing a book about the end of the Second World War in which stories of British ‘imperial muscle memory’ will feature prominently, which he discusses with Antony.

You can buy Antony’s book on Pearson, and books from the other authors we feature here, in our own Scandal Mongers bookshop - along with thousands more.

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-diplomat-lester-pearson-and-the-suez-crisis-antony-anderson/3200341?aid=12054&ean=9781773100456&

Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalMongers

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Andrew Lownie

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Phil Craig

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