Faithful Witness
The Confidential Diaries of Alan Don, Chaplain to the King, the Archbishop and the Speaker, 1931-1946, with a foreword by Archbishop Justin Welby
The fascinating diaries of a perceptive eyewitness to the historic events of the 1930s and 40s - including the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, the coronation of George VI in 1937, the rise of Hitler and the war with Germany of 1939-45
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ISBN-13
9780281083985-grouped
From £34.99
Alan Don KCVO (1885–1966) was Chaplain and secretary to Cosmo Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury, from 1931 to 1941, Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons from 1936 to 1946 and Dean of Westminster from 1946 to 1959. He was also a Chaplain to George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II.
Robert Beaken is an Anglican priest and historian. His previous books include Following Christ (2020), The Church of England and the Home Front 1914-1918 (2015), Cosmo Lang, Archbishop in War and Crisis (2012) and Beginning to Preach (2004). He holds a PhD from King’s College London, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Robert Beaken is an Anglican priest and historian. His previous books include Following Christ (2020), The Church of England and the Home Front 1914-1918 (2015), Cosmo Lang, Archbishop in War and Crisis (2012) and Beginning to Preach (2004). He holds a PhD from King’s College London, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
‘In the recent parade of diaries, unbelievable interviews, and extraordinary political commentaries, Alan Don’s diaries shine out. . . These were years of the Depression, the rise of Nazi Germany, the Abdication, the Coronation of George VI, the Munich crisis, the Second World War and the London Blitz, and finally victory. . . You will enjoy reading these beautifully written diaries because of the unique insight into these historical events, but also because of Don’s remarkable analysis of the personalities. . . There are wonderful insights throughout.’
I can’t express how much I have been enjoying The Confidential Diaries of Alan Don, who was for a decade from 1931 chaplain and secretary to the strange Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Lang . . . The 500-page diaries have been brilliantly reduced from 1,764 closely written pages by Robert Beaken, who wrote a marvellous biography of Lang in 2012.
‘Robert Beaken has done a magnificent job of presenting these journals and bringing to life again a cast of remarkable figures during an eventful and traumatic era. . . A really valuable contribution to the history of twentieth century Britain.’
‘Alan Don’s diaries are a revelation, full of perceptive and lively comment on the leaders of the Church of England and aspects of public and social life during the difficult years of the 1930s and 1940s.’
‘These wonderful diaries add hugely to our understanding of the centrality of the Church in the British state in the run up to global conflict.’
‘The entries on the Second World War are especially vivid and compelling.’
‘An essential resource for researchers of these turbulent years, but also a delight for any reader to dip into.’
Certainly a volume that will give you endless delight . . . this is a "must buy".
Fascinating.
About
The fascinating diaries of a perceptive eyewitness to the historic events of the 1930s and 40s - including the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, the coronation of George VI in 1937, the rise of Hitler and the war with Germany of 1939-45.
In May 1931, Alan Don travelled from Dundee to Lambeth Palace to become Chaplain to Archbishop Cosmo Lang. During that journey he began a diary. He kept it faithfully for the next fifteen years, during which he also became Chaplain to the King and to the Speaker of the House of Commons. These positions afforded him a ringside view of some of the most momentous events in both British and world history – including the abdication of Edward VIII, the coronation of George VI, the rise of Hitler and the trauma of the Second World War.
Now, for the first time, these fascinating diaries are laid open. They offer a wealth of detailed insight into the ecclesiastical, royal and parliamentary affairs of Britain and her élite during two historically significant decades. They also open a window on the history of the Church of England and its role in the social, political and military upheavals of the 1930s and 40s.
Anyone who wants to know more about how Great Britain survived those turbulent times, will be amply rewarded by this engaging, perceptive and revealing eye-witness account.
In May 1931, Alan Don travelled from Dundee to Lambeth Palace to become Chaplain to Archbishop Cosmo Lang. During that journey he began a diary. He kept it faithfully for the next fifteen years, during which he also became Chaplain to the King and to the Speaker of the House of Commons. These positions afforded him a ringside view of some of the most momentous events in both British and world history – including the abdication of Edward VIII, the coronation of George VI, the rise of Hitler and the trauma of the Second World War.
Now, for the first time, these fascinating diaries are laid open. They offer a wealth of detailed insight into the ecclesiastical, royal and parliamentary affairs of Britain and her élite during two historically significant decades. They also open a window on the history of the Church of England and its role in the social, political and military upheavals of the 1930s and 40s.
Anyone who wants to know more about how Great Britain survived those turbulent times, will be amply rewarded by this engaging, perceptive and revealing eye-witness account.
Author
Alan Don KCVO (1885–1966) was Chaplain and secretary to Cosmo Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury, from 1931 to 1941, Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons from 1936 to 1946 and Dean of Westminster from 1946 to 1959. He was also a Chaplain to George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II.
Robert Beaken is an Anglican priest and historian. His previous books include Following Christ (2020), The Church of England and the Home Front 1914-1918 (2015), Cosmo Lang, Archbishop in War and Crisis (2012) and Beginning to Preach (2004). He holds a PhD from King’s College London, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Robert Beaken is an Anglican priest and historian. His previous books include Following Christ (2020), The Church of England and the Home Front 1914-1918 (2015), Cosmo Lang, Archbishop in War and Crisis (2012) and Beginning to Preach (2004). He holds a PhD from King’s College London, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Reviews
‘In the recent parade of diaries, unbelievable interviews, and extraordinary political commentaries, Alan Don’s diaries shine out. . . These were years of the Depression, the rise of Nazi Germany, the Abdication, the Coronation of George VI, the Munich crisis, the Second World War and the London Blitz, and finally victory. . . You will enjoy reading these beautifully written diaries because of the unique insight into these historical events, but also because of Don’s remarkable analysis of the personalities. . . There are wonderful insights throughout.’
I can’t express how much I have been enjoying The Confidential Diaries of Alan Don, who was for a decade from 1931 chaplain and secretary to the strange Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Lang . . . The 500-page diaries have been brilliantly reduced from 1,764 closely written pages by Robert Beaken, who wrote a marvellous biography of Lang in 2012.
‘Robert Beaken has done a magnificent job of presenting these journals and bringing to life again a cast of remarkable figures during an eventful and traumatic era. . . A really valuable contribution to the history of twentieth century Britain.’
‘Alan Don’s diaries are a revelation, full of perceptive and lively comment on the leaders of the Church of England and aspects of public and social life during the difficult years of the 1930s and 1940s.’
‘These wonderful diaries add hugely to our understanding of the centrality of the Church in the British state in the run up to global conflict.’
‘The entries on the Second World War are especially vivid and compelling.’
‘An essential resource for researchers of these turbulent years, but also a delight for any reader to dip into.’
Certainly a volume that will give you endless delight . . . this is a "must buy".
Fascinating.
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In May 1931, Alan Don travelled from Dundee to Lambeth Palace to become Chaplain to Archbishop Cosmo Lang. During that journey he began a diary. He kept it faithfully for the next fifteen years, during which he also became Chaplain to the King and to the Speaker of the House of Commons. These positions afforded him a ringside view of some of the most momentous events in both British and world history – including the abdication of Edward VIII, the coronation of George VI, the rise of Hitler and the trauma of the Second World War.
Now, for the first time, these fascinating diaries are laid open. They offer a wealth of detailed insight into the ecclesiastical, royal and parliamentary affairs of Britain and her élite during two historically significant decades. They also open a window on the history of the Church of England and its role in the social, political and military upheavals of the 1930s and 40s.
Anyone who wants to know more about how Great Britain survived those turbulent times, will be amply rewarded by this engaging, perceptive and revealing eye-witness account.