God In Number 10

'Mark Vickers has given us a wonderful new reference book of the beliefs (and non-beliefs) of 20th-century PMs - a meaty volume that can also be consumed as a social history of British religion.' THE TELEGRAPH

'This carefully researched and well-written study reveals the religious faith of our Prime Ministers, or lack of it, in vivid colours. Prepare to be shocked and surprised as the author lays bare their souls.' SIR ANTHONY SELDON

Mark Vickers' acclaimed volume on the faith of the twentieth-century Prime Ministers casts a new perspective on these holders of the highest political office in the realm. While there are biographies aplenty on the 18 men and 1 woman who took up residence behind the famous black door, it is notable that that many of these works fail to reflect an important - sometimes the most important - aspect of the life of their subject. God in Number 10 rectifies this omission, offering intriguing insights into Margaret Thatcher's legendary 'Sermon on the Mound', Tony Blair's perception of Jesus as a modernizer, Arthur Balfour's recourse to spiritualism, Stanley Baldwin's mystical experiences, and Winston Churchill's involvement with astrology. The book considers the role of religion generally in the political classes of the period, the reasons for the declining influence of faith in the public forum, and the relationship between Church and State.

The families of H. H. Asquith, Bonar Law, Ramsay MacDonald, Neville Chamberlain, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home and Harold Wilson have all expressed their support for God in Number 10 and, where able, helped in the research, while John Major has assisted fully.

Christopher Howse of the Daily Telegraph has read some chapters of God and Number 10 and offered to write about it in his Saturday column

Publications as diverse as The Spectator and The Tablet have enthusiastically welcomed the book and promised to review it, while many high-placed individuals have expressed interest in promoting it

Series such as Netflix's The Crown have increased familiarity - around the world - with the Prime Ministers of the latter part of the century: Winston Churchill features strongly (and resigns) in series 1; the Suez Crisis leads to the retirement of Anthony Eden and then of Harold Macmillan due to the Profumo affair in series 2; Harold Wilson's and Edward Heath's times are covered in series 3; while series 4 is set during the memorable tenure of Margaret Thatcher

Draws on a vast quantity of archival material, much of it previously unused, shedding fascinating light Foreword by Ian Hislop, Andrew Marr, John Snow, Edward Stourton or similar well-known name - endorsers likely to include John Major and Charles Moore Potential for material to be made into a TV documentary