Stuart Ball was educated at Eltham College, London, and the University of St. Andrews. He has published extensively on the history of the Conservative Party and of the British Parliament during the twentieth century, including editing the two volume edition of the diaries of the Conservative MP, Cuthbert Headlam. He is the author of the essay on Stanley Baldwin in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and is Treasurer of the Parliamentary History Trust.

the book should inspire historians to do more research on the Partys political culture, identity, and language.

• Introduction: the Portrait of a Party ; 1. Conservatism: Principles and Temperament ; 2. The Public: Appeal and Support ; 3. The Constituency Associations: Members and Activities ; 4. The National Union and the Central Office: Representation and Organisation ; 5. The Parliamentary Party: Composition and Dissent ; 6. Ministers: Juniors and the Cabinet ; 7. Leaders: Authority and Crises ; Conclusion: Effectiveness and Nature ; Appendix 1: Conservative Party office-holders 1918-1945 ; Appendix 2: The economic and social analysis of Conservative electoral support ; Appendix 3: The regional analysis of Conservative electoral support ; Appendix 4: Conservative Party national expenditure 1925-1945 ; Bibliography

Stuart Ball was educated at Eltham College, London, and the University of St. Andrews. He has published extensively on the history of the Conservative Party and of the British Parliament during the twentieth century, including editing the two volume edition of the diaries of the Conservative MP, Cuthbert Headlam. He is the author of the essay on Stanley Baldwin in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and is Treasurer of the Parliamentary History Trust.

the book should inspire historians to do more research on the Partys political culture, identity, and language.

• Introduction: the Portrait of a Party ; 1. Conservatism: Principles and Temperament ; 2. The Public: Appeal and Support ; 3. The Constituency Associations: Members and Activities ; 4. The National Union and the Central Office: Representation and Organisation ; 5. The Parliamentary Party: Composition and Dissent ; 6. Ministers: Juniors and the Cabinet ; 7. Leaders: Authority and Crises ; Conclusion: Effectiveness and Nature ; Appendix 1: Conservative Party office-holders 1918-1945 ; Appendix 2: The economic and social analysis of Conservative electoral support ; Appendix 3: The regional analysis of Conservative electoral support ; Appendix 4: Conservative Party national expenditure 1925-1945 ; Bibliography